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Longest-serving Arab terrorist murderer freed from Israeli jail, says he’s ‘proud’

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Arab-Israeli terrorist who murdered an Israeli soldier in 1980 released from prison Thursday morning, prompting efforts to strip him of citizenship.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

Arab-Israeli terrorist Karim Younis, whose citizenship may be revoked, was released from prison on Thursday morning.

He and his brother, Maher, killed Cpl. Avraham Bromberg in 1980 as he was on his way to an army base in the Golan.

They shot Bromberg, threw him out of a moving car and left him for dead by the side of a road. Bromberg died several days later.

The brothers served 40 years behind bars and are considered Palestinian celebrities as the longest-serving prisoners. Maher is expected to be released in two weeks.

Both brothers originally had life sentences, but in 2012 they were commuted by Israeli president Shimon Peres as a “goodwill” gesture to the Palestinians.

“Every prisoner’s story is the story of an entire people and I am proud to be one of those who sacrificed for Palestine,” Younis said.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri is moving to revoke their citizenship.

In a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Deri wrote on Wednesday, “It is unthinkable that these people will continue to hold Israeli citizenship. Revoking their citizenship will have an important message, when it comes to those who have become symbols for committing criminal, terrorist acts.”

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He added, “These things take on a different validity as far as those who use their Israeli citizenship to harm the State of Israel and its citizens are concerned.”

It is unclear whether the Younis brothers can be stripped of their citizenship and deported. The law currently allows this if the person holds citizenship in a second country. The Younis brothers only hold Israeli citizenship but could potentially be deported to the Palestinian Authority.

If they are stripped of their citizenship, the brothers would still be allowed to remain in Israel for a period of time under a different status, such as a temporary resident.

Two bills were recently submitted to the Knesset that would strip the citizenship of anyone receiving a terror stipend from the Palestinian Authority.