Israel Considers Revoking Citizenship Over Criticism of Military Actions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to advance legislation that would allow for the revocation of citizenship from individuals who "disparage IDF soldiers." This move is seen by critics not just as an attack on free speech, but as a fundamental shift in the relationship between citizens and the state, questioning whether political community membership can be contingent on speech about the government.

The proposed legislation is framed within the context of Israel's ongoing political upheaval, which the author argues extends beyond judicial reform to encompass the very definition of citizenship and the power dynamics between the state and its citizens. The article contends that the erosion of effective citizenship for Palestinian citizens of Israel, characterized by a gradual reduction in their ability to demand equality, protection, and accountability from the state, is not a byproduct but an integral part of this broader political project.

This trend is not new, with previous laws like the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, the Counter-Terrorism Law, and the Nation-State Law cited as precedents that have already impacted Palestinian citizens' rights and national identity. The author notes that governmental tools developed for controlling specific populations, such as surveillance technologies used against Palestinians, have historically expanded to encompass other citizen groups, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The significance of Netanyahu's recent statement lies in its potential to broaden the grounds for revoking citizenship beyond terrorism or "breach of faith" to include criticism of military and state actions. Sociologist Charles Tilly's concept of citizenship as a relationship of claims citizens can make against state agents is invoked to explain how formal citizenship can be maintained while effective citizenship is diminished.

The article concludes by arguing that the fight against the erosion of citizenship must be inclusive, asserting that defending Jewish citizens' rights while accepting the diminishing effective citizenship of Palestinian citizens is contradictory. True democratic opposition, it suggests, requires advocating for equal and robust citizenship that empowers individuals to hold the state accountable, regardless of national identity, political stance, or loyalty to the ruling government.