Israel tells Hamas leaders from East Jerusalem to quit party or leave city

The Interior Minister, Ronnie Bar-On, announced in a television interview that the Palestinian Authority Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and three other members elected to the Legislative Council in January will have their residency rights revoked unless they renounce Hamas membership.

The minister, Khaled abu Arafa, and the three backbenchers, Mohammed Abu Tir, Ahmed Abu Atoun and Mahmoud Totach, all have the blue identity cards issued by Israel to Palestinians in the Arab eastern sector of the city. "You will either resign or you won't be with us," Mr Bar-On said.

Haaretz newspaper reported that the police had issued warning letters to the four men saying they had to cut all ties with the PA or steps would be taken against them. The four politicians said the move amounted to "eviction" and that they would use "all legal means" to fight the move.

East Jerusalem IDs allow the holders to travel within Israel and entitles them to some benefits, like health care, provided by the Israel state. East Jerusalem itself, which Israel took in the 1967 Six Day War, is regarded as occupied territory by the international community.

Mr Abu Tir, a senior figure who was second on the Hamas candidates' list last January, said: "No one can deport residents of the holy city from their lands. We will fight this erroneous decision every way we can, via the Israeli legal system, the international courts, Palestinian public opinion and the Arab world opinion - in order to defeat these Israeli intentions."

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http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article621866.ece