Swift punitive steps pledged against Palestinians

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced a series of punitive steps against Palestinians in the wake of the deadly synagogue attack in Jerusalem.

- Bethan McKernan JERUSALEM

In a statement issued after the weekly cabinet meeting last Sunday, Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s security agency would explore “additional deterrent measures regarding the families of terrorists that express support for terrorism”, including the revocation of Jerusalem residency rights and Israeli citizenship, and legislation allowing employers to dismiss workers who have “supported terrorism” without the need for a hearing.

Other actions outlined by the cabinet include stripping family members of attackers of social security and health benefits, changes in policy to make it easier to demolish homes of Palestinians who carry out terrorist attacks, and the “strengthening of settlements” in the occupied West Bank, on which no further details were given.