Three of the officials are Hamas members of the Palestinian Authority parliament. A fourth is Khaled Abu Arafa, who holds a ministerial post in the PA cabinet, with responsibility for Jerusalem.
The officials were given one month to resign from the organization. Hamas officials with Israeli residency carry Israeli ID cards, guaranteeing them freedom of movement throughout the country. They are also entitled to receive child subsidies, free health care, old age pensions, and other social benefits.
The Hamas, a radical Islamic organization dedicated to Israel’s destruction, is outlawed under Israeli law. Membership in the terrorist organization, which has carried out dozens of terrorist strikes killing hundreds of Israelis, is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.
U.S. law also defines the Hamas as a terrorist organization, and its members are subject to stiff criminal penalties.
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union/NRP) criticized Bar-On’s announcement, calling it too little too late. “If membership in a terrorist organization such as the Hamas is a criminal offense, why aren’t they being tried and sent to jail?” he asked.
Eldad accused the Olmert government of trying to distinguish between Hamas politicians and those who carry out the group’s terrorist attacks.
“We thought that since Yassin, we’ve stopped playing with those distinctions,” he said. Eldad was referring to Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas in Gaza. Yassin was assassinated by the IDF in a helicopter raid in March, 2004 after a series of suicide bombings killed scores of Israelis.
Arab MKs condemned Bar-On’s decision. MK Jamal Zahalka (Balad) said, “The Israeli occupation is what needs to leave east Jerusalem." MK Mohammed Barakeh, who heads the Hadash party, attacked Bar-On personally, saying his move reflects “the occupiers' arrogance and not a proper administration.”
The possibility of revoking the residency status of Hamas members living in Israel has been discussed in the past, but no such action has ever been taken against Hamas officials.
Bar-On said that if the Hamas officials decide to cling to the organization, “they will have to explain to me why I should not use my authority to revoke their status as residents.”
Persons stripped of their status as Israeli residents become illegal aliens and are subject to expulsion.
The four Hamas officials have rejected Bar-On’s ultimatum. Though the Hamas does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, Abu Arafa pledged to fight for his status in Israeli courts.
"We didn't do anything to violate Israeli law," he said, "and there is no legal reason for this decision. The interior minister is motivated by his desire to Judaize Jerusalem. We are now studying all the legal aspects of this matter. We will fight the decision and will defeat it via legal means."
The officials were given one month to resign from the organization. Hamas officials with Israeli residency carry Israeli ID cards, guaranteeing them freedom of movement throughout the country. They are also entitled to receive child subsidies, free health care, old age pensions, and other social benefits.
The Hamas, a radical Islamic organization dedicated to Israel’s destruction, is outlawed under Israeli law. Membership in the terrorist organization, which has carried out dozens of terrorist strikes killing hundreds of Israelis, is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.
U.S. law also defines the Hamas as a terrorist organization, and its members are subject to stiff criminal penalties.
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union/NRP) criticized Bar-On’s announcement, calling it too little too late. “If membership in a terrorist organization such as the Hamas is a criminal offense, why aren’t they being tried and sent to jail?” he asked.
Eldad accused the Olmert government of trying to distinguish between Hamas politicians and those who carry out the group’s terrorist attacks.
“We thought that since Yassin, we’ve stopped playing with those distinctions,” he said. Eldad was referring to Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas in Gaza. Yassin was assassinated by the IDF in a helicopter raid in March, 2004 after a series of suicide bombings killed scores of Israelis.
Arab MKs condemned Bar-On’s decision. MK Jamal Zahalka (Balad) said, “The Israeli occupation is what needs to leave east Jerusalem." MK Mohammed Barakeh, who heads the Hadash party, attacked Bar-On personally, saying his move reflects “the occupiers' arrogance and not a proper administration.”
The possibility of revoking the residency status of Hamas members living in Israel has been discussed in the past, but no such action has ever been taken against Hamas officials.
Bar-On said that if the Hamas officials decide to cling to the organization, “they will have to explain to me why I should not use my authority to revoke their status as residents.”
Persons stripped of their status as Israeli residents become illegal aliens and are subject to expulsion.
The four Hamas officials have rejected Bar-On’s ultimatum. Though the Hamas does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, Abu Arafa pledged to fight for his status in Israeli courts.
"We didn't do anything to violate Israeli law," he said, "and there is no legal reason for this decision. The interior minister is motivated by his desire to Judaize Jerusalem. We are now studying all the legal aspects of this matter. We will fight the decision and will defeat it via legal means."