Israeli law would strip citizenship for espionage
JERUSALEM – Israel’s parliament has passed a law that allows courts to strip citizenship of anyone convicted of an act of terror against Israel, espionage or aiding Israel’s enemies.
The legislation was opposed by critics who claim it’s aimed at Israel’s Arab minority. It passed easily Monday night with a 37-11 vote in the 120-seat parliament.
The law is in addition to other penalties that violators might face. It was sponsored by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s hardline Yisrael Beiteinu Party, which has played heavily on the perceived disloyalty of Israel’s 1.5 million Arabs.
The party has also pushed through parliament a law requiring non-Jewish immigrants to take a loyalty oath. That law was seen as anti-Arab because it doesn’t apply to Jewish immigrants.