Israel's military has issued new orders that human rights groups warned Sunday could lead to the expulsion of tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank.
Under the new rules, anyone caught living in the West Bank without an Israeli permit could face expulsion within as little as three days or be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
The orders are to go into effect Tuesday. The military said existing law already allows for the expulsion of illegal residents and that the new order adds another layer of judicial oversight over deportation procedures. However, 10 Israeli human rights groups urged Defense Minister Ehud Barak to rescind the new rules.
The rights groups said the orders are so vague and sweeping that virtually all West Bankers are potentially at risk. For example, the military does not define what permits are required to shield against deportation, the groups said. The military later clarified that West Bankers with residency rights would not be targeted.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat denounced the new measures as ''an assault on ordinary Palestinians, and an affront to the most fundamental principles of human rights.'' He said Palestinians are being turned into criminals in their own homes.
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