Photo Credit:
Israeli Arab MK Hanin Zoabi being forcibly removed from the Knesset podium. (archive)

The Knesset “Ouster Bill” has passed its first hurdle in the Knesset Law Committee in a vote that allowed the measure to move to the next step — its first reading in the Knesset plenum.

If eventually approved in all three plenum readings, the bill will allow the House to eject a Knesset member for incitement to racism, and supporting armed struggle against Israel.

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The issue is one that has dogged the Israeli parliament for years, as lawmakers — mostly those from the Israeli Arab sector — rant against the interests of the very taxpayers who pay their salaries, from podiums in the Knesset plenum and sometimes in public rallies to wildly cheering audiences intending to attack Israelis and hoping to destroy the State of Israel.

The ouster recommendation would have to pass a vote of 90 lawmakers — three quarters of the Knesset plenum — and could only be launched with the support of 70 Knesset members.

According to the law, at least 10 of the lawmakers would have to be opposition members — and no lawmaker could be impeached during an electoral process.

In order to start the process, a Knesset member would have to make a request to the Knesset Speaker, who would then relay the request to the House Committee. Three quarters of that committee would then be required to move the proposed ouster to the Knesset plenum.

The Knesset member being ousted could appeal the move in a petition to the Supreme Court.

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Hana Levi Julian is a Middle East news analyst with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. A past columnist with The Jewish Press and senior editor at Arutz 7, Ms. Julian has written for Babble.com, Chabad.org and other media outlets, in addition to her years working in broadcast journalism.