More than 150 prominent political science and law academics from all public universities and colleges in Israel appealed in a letter to Yesh Atid and Blue and White parties on Sunday, July 6, not to support the impeachment of Hadash MK Ayman Odeh. According to the academics, the impeachment was a “dangerous move that undermines the foundations of Israeli democracy.”
Hadash MK Ayman Odeh (Photo: Al-Ittihad)
“One does not need to agree with Odeh’s views to oppose his ousting strongly,” the academics wrote. “The proper way to respond to his statements is through arguments, public debates, and open dialogue, not by denying representation rights or harming the pillars of democracy.”
The scholars argued that the attempt to remove MK Odeh was not an isolated event but part of a “broader pattern led by the current coalition aimed at changing democratic norms to solidify its rule, including attempts made ahead of the previous election to introduce cameras into polling stations, legislation intended to ease the disqualification of Arab candidates, and the current effort to unseat one of the most prominent Arab representatives in the Knesset.”
On Sunday, the spokesperson for Blue and White said that the party had not yet decided whether to adopt a unified stance or allow its MKs to vote as they see fit. However, opposition leader MK Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) said that he would vote in favor of impeaching Hadash-Ta’al’s chairperson in the vote scheduled for next Monday, July 14. This announcement is notable since Lapid would be supporting the ouster of a fellow leader from the opposition party. Lapid, for example, did not participate in a previous impeachment proceeding against Hadash MK Ofer Cassif in 2024.
On June 30, the Knesset House Committee completed a hearing for Odeh and approved the measure, with support from opposition parties Yisrael Beytenu, Yesh Atid, and Blue and White. The measure now must receive the support of 90 MKs in the Knesset plenum for Odeh to be impeached, after which the MK has the right to appeal to the High Court of Justice.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32809
