Knesset Advances Legislation to Disqualify Hadash and Arab Lawmakers

A bill that changes the criteria for banning candidates from running for the Knesset, which could make it easier to push out Hadash and Arab-led parties and MKs, passed a preliminary reading on Wednesday, October 30. The vote passed 61-35, with support from the far-right coalition’s parties and the opposition party Yisrael Beytenu. The National Unity Party was absent, and members of the rest of the opposition opposed the bill.

The amendment to Basic Law would expand the current rule, whereby candidates can only be banned from running if there is a significant body of evidence that they have “supported terror,” to include isolated support of acts carried out by a lone attacker and not just those by a group or enemy state. Among the acts that would be construed as support for terror would be visiting the family of an attack suspect.

MK Ayman Odeh (Hadash) removed by ushers from the plenum after he criticized the Israeli occupation army, Wednesday, October 30, 2024 (Photo: Knesset)

According to the proposal sponsored by Likud MK Ofir Katz, a candidate can be banned by the Central Election Committee without needing the final approval of the High Court of Justice, as is currently required. The proposed law is at base to ban Hadash and Arab parties from participating in the election, as well as weaken the Supreme Court’s power to overturn the decision. Furthermore, since left-wing and Arab voters do not belong to the right-wing camp, blocking participation of Hadash and Arab parties will also benefit the current far-right governing coalition electorally and increase its chances to win the next election.

Opposition Leader MK Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) said during the debate that it was “clear who you are trying to disqualify” with the bill, accusing the far-right government of singling out Arab lawmakers, and passing a law for “canceling the opposition.” Lapid added the coalition wouldn’t pass a law against those convicted of terror, because that would result in the disqualification of the racist National Security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has been convicted eight times on incitement and terrorism charges. “This is not really a law against terrorism, this is a law to protect your coalition in any situation,” he said. All members of Lapid’s Yesh Atid party voted against the bill except for MK Idan Roll, who abstained, along with National Unity lawmakers.

During the debate, Hadash-Ta’al faction leader, MK Ayman Odeh and Hadash MK Aida Touma-Sliman were forcibly removed from the parliamentary plenum. Odeh was removed by ushers after he criticized the Israeli occupation army and said they were committing war crimes and massacre in Gaza and starving children

According to MK Ofer Cassif (Hadash), “The masks are removed: the Knesset voted in favor of eliminating the democratic pretense The Knesset voted on a law to hinder Arab-Palestinian citizens and democratic Jews participation in the elections. Yesterday, the head of the governing coalition explicitly said he aims to use this law to prevent re-election of me and my colleagues. In this Orwellian 1984 version of Israel war resisters are considered terror supporters and fascist thugs who run the Parliament are seen as democrats. We will fight this dangerous law with all our power and never allow anyone to silence us.”

Social Equality and Advancement of the Status of Women Minister May Golan, who advocated for the bill, was also removed from the session after verbally attacking several opposition lawmakers, including telling Yesh Atid MK Vladimir Beliak to “wash your dirty mouth.” Deputy Knesset speaker Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky urged Golan to not inflame the situation, to which she responded: “I will say what I want.” “The next time you use adjectives against a Knesset member you will leave,” Milwidsky said. “You can save your etiquette for the Arab MKs and the leftists you talk to. Don’t stop Knesset members. I’ll continue as long as I want,” Golan responded. She was eventually removed as she continued to scold other Hadash lawmakers.

Separately, a bill granting the far-right government oversight of television viewership data passed a preliminary reading 53-49 in the Knesset plenum, two days after receiving backing from the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. The legislation, sponsored by Likud MK Shalom Danino, would allow the communications minister to assume control of the currently independent organization that supplies publishers with this information.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issued a position paper asserting that it would violate key constitutional principles, including the right to privacy and freedom of the press. The bill is designed to benefit the commercial interests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s favored far-right Channel 14. Mainstream broadcasters are ostensibly concerned that the government-designated agency for determining viewer ratings could slant the data toward pro-government outlets, thereby unjustifiably increasing their income and influence. The liberal Movement for Quality Government in Israel deemed the bill “scandalous” and a “continuation of the regime coup.” “

Another bill aimed to preventing the Palestinian Authority from petitioning the High Court of Justice passes on Wednesday a preliminary reading 52-23 in the Knesset plenum. The legislation, an amendment to Basic Law strips the right to approach the top court from any entity that transfers funds associated “with acts of terrorism,” which is defined as “rewarding terrorism.”

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32188