Israeli officials in the Justice and Defense Ministries are investigating avenues of dealing with family members of suicide terrorists. The question at hand is whether they can be deported. Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein estimates that they can be deported to Gaza, but that even that would be a complex legal procedure and would include giving the families a chance to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Israeli Association for Civil Rights, working under the assumption that the family members of suicide terrorists are innocent, calls upon Israel not to \"blur the lines between a democratic state… and terrorist organizations\" by taking such action against the murderers\' families. President Moshe Katzav, who paid a condolence call to the family of fallen soldier Chezky Gutman in Beit El today, expressed support for the deportation of suicide terrorist families. The Military State Prosecution says that unless the applicable laws are changed, it cannot be done legally.
Although it is widely understood in the army that such a move would have major deterrent value, it is also feared that deporting the families would incur the wrath of many Arab-supporting countries, lead to American criticism, and risk a clash with the Supreme Court and international tribunals. The banishment of mothers who encourage their sons to commit suicide attacks is considered to be less of a legal problem, however.
The Israeli Association for Civil Rights, working under the assumption that the family members of suicide terrorists are innocent, calls upon Israel not to \"blur the lines between a democratic state… and terrorist organizations\" by taking such action against the murderers\' families. President Moshe Katzav, who paid a condolence call to the family of fallen soldier Chezky Gutman in Beit El today, expressed support for the deportation of suicide terrorist families. The Military State Prosecution says that unless the applicable laws are changed, it cannot be done legally.
Although it is widely understood in the army that such a move would have major deterrent value, it is also feared that deporting the families would incur the wrath of many Arab-supporting countries, lead to American criticism, and risk a clash with the Supreme Court and international tribunals. The banishment of mothers who encourage their sons to commit suicide attacks is considered to be less of a legal problem, however.