Israeli Interior Minister Ronnie Bar-On on Monday threatened to revoke residency status of four Hamas legislators living in East Jerusalem unless they quit the Islamic group.

The minister gave Palestinian Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Khaled Abu Arafa and three Hamas legislators-- Mohammad Taoutah, Mohammad Abu Tir, and Ahmad Adoun-- 30 days to give up their memberships in Hamas or their residency status will be revoked.

The Interior Ministry has sent the four men decrees stating that the decision was taken based on their membership in Hamas, which Israel considers a terror group.

"You will either resign or you won't be with us," Bar-On said in a Channel 2 TV interview. "The letters were delivered to them today, and they have 30 days to decide."

Hamas legislator Abu Tir said that he and his colleagues had been summoned to a Jerusalem police station to be informed of the decision.

"The meaning of such a decision is to evict us and our families from our homes," he added.

"I can't imagine myself living outside Jerusalem. We will not let this happen. But to the truth is that at the moment I am out of words to describe our feelings and what we will do to reverse this decision," he said.

Palestinians living in East Jerusalem enjoy social benefits including pension and health care. Israeli-issued identity cards grant them permanent residency in Jerusalem and freedom of movement in Israel.

Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, took control of the Palestinian parliament after winning the January legislative elections by a landslide.

The group, which refuses to renounce violence and calls for Israel's destruct, then formed a new Palestinian government in late March.

Source: Xinhua