Report: Hundreds of Palestinians Arrested for Terrorism Held Valid Entry Permits

In a report exclusively obtained by Yisrael Hayom, it has been revealed that a significant number of Palestinians arrested for terrorism in recent years were actually legally allowed to be in Israel. Compiled by the Knesset Research and Information Center, the report highlights a sharp increase in this statistic over the span of several years.

The data, requested by MK Chanoch Milwidsky (Likud) and right-wing watchdog Im Tirtzu, exposes that between 2018 and 2022, approximately 21,000 Palestinians were arrested for terror-related offenses. Shockingly, around 10% of these individuals (2,115) possessed valid entry permits, granting them permission to cross the Green Line. The number of permit holders arrested rose from 212 in 2018 to 767 in 2021, possibly influenced by the heightened tensions surrounding Operation Guardian of the Walls in Gaza. However, the figure slightly decreased to 580 in 2022.

Further analysis reveals that 18% of the permit holders who were arrested had already entered Israel when apprehended. In response to a series of terrorist attacks in 2022, the IDF began reinforcing the security barrier, yet as of June 2023, the Israel Police has yet to estimate the number of Palestinians crossing into Israel. According to the Shin Bet, approximately 7,000 Palestinians enter Israel daily without proper documentation.

Reacting to the report, Milwidsky stated, “A rise of 35% in terrorist-related offenses among Palestinian permit holders is unacceptable. We will not compromise Israelis’ security for the sake of improving Palestinians’ economic lives. I will request that the head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, convene a hearing on the policy for issuing permits.”

Expressing concern, Alon Schwartzer, Head of Policy at Im Tirtzu, emphasized, “It is beyond comprehension that the livelihood rights of Arabs in Yehudah and Shomron would take precedence over the life and security of Israeli citizens.” Schwartzer urged immediate action from relevant agencies to limit the availability of such permits, particularly in light of the data indicating involvement in terrorism among permit holders who use them to visit prisoners. He called on the head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to urgently convene a meeting and demand answers from the security establishment.