An Arab holding an A-5 visa for the past 16 years granting him temporary resident status on the strength of his marriage to an Israeli citizen had that citizenship revoked Thursday night.
Interior Minister Arye Deri ordered officials to revoke the citizenship of Hani Massoud Nasir Abu Amra, originally from Deir Al-Balah.
Abu Amra received temporary resident status in 2000 for “family unification” after his marriage, and lived in the Bedouin town of Tel Sheva.
“A situation in which citizens use their status to commit terror attacks against Israeli citizens is something I intend to fight completely and relentlessly,” Deri said in a statement Thursday night. “I will take any steps necessary and use all available legal means to counter these dangers.”
He was a member of a terrorist cell recruited by Mahmoud Yusuf Hasin Abu Taha, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. Abu Taha, who was recruited by a senior member of the terrorist organization, was indicted Thursday on terror-related charges.
Abu Amra and two other cell members were arrested Thursday and charged with plotting to attack a wedding hall in southern Israel where one of the three, a Gaza resident who had infiltrated into Israel, was illegally employed as a worker.
The group also allegedly planned to abduct and murder and Israeli soldier, using his dead body as a bargaining chip in subsequent prison swap negotiations with Israel.
The three terrorists were taken into custody by Shin Bet intelligence agents and the Negev Central Unit of the Israel Police.