Watan-Despite broad support from Israel’s opposition leaders for expelling MK Ayman Odeh, head of the Joint List/Change Alliance, from the Knesset, a powerful wave of opposition is emerging from Israel’s cultural, academic, and civil society sectors. Critics are sounding the alarm over what they call a racist, fascist move aimed at silencing dissent.
On Wednesday, more than 2,500 Israeli writers and poets, including the renowned David Grossman, issued a statement firmly rejecting the right-wing campaign to silence dissenting voices in parliament. They declared they would not vote for any party that supports the expulsion of Odeh and denounced the growing suppression of left-wing voices.
“While right-wing politicians speak freely in the Knesset—even inciting racism and bloodshed—the same tolerance is not shown to leftists who oppose the war and advocate Jewish-Arab coexistence,” the statement read. “Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. Whether one agrees with MK Odeh or not, he has the right to speak his mind.”
Even Israel’s Attorney General and Knesset legal advisor confirmed there is no legal basis for removing Odeh, reaffirming his parliamentary immunity.
A day earlier, 150 leading filmmakers joined the protest in a similar joint statement, warning against the erosion of democratic values. They were preceded by statements from 200 legal and political science academics. “Anyone who supports removing Odeh,” the filmmakers warned, “is complicit in undermining what’s left of democracy in Israel. We will not remain silent, nor support any party complicit in this.”
Civil society groups and protest organizations across the country have also called on centrist opposition parties like Yesh Atid and Blue and White to oppose the motion, warning that backing such a step could cost them public support and participation in anti-government protests.
Meanwhile, 40 Israeli university professors published a paid statement in Haaretz under the title “The Democratic Civil Movement”, using sharper language:“This is a black flag. There is no legal, moral, or public justification for this. It is a deliberate campaign to silence criticism—especially from Palestinian citizens of Israel—and a betrayal of democracy.”
They accuse the ruling coalition of hypocrisy and violent racism, stating:“You persecute a lawmaker who supports peace, while staying silent about Knesset members who incite ethnic cleansing, support massacres, and call for genocide.”
The academics also warned opposition parties that supporting the expulsion would draw the Supreme Court into a trap, forcing it to intervene, which the far-right could exploit to fuel further delegitimization of the judiciary.“You cannot claim to be liberal or democratic while supporting this. This is a stain on the Knesset and a betrayal of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.”
Their statement ended with a direct call to conscience:“Let every politician know: anyone who joins this crime will lose the support of those who struggle for a sane, just, equal Israel. You’ll be aligning yourself with the racist camp of Jewish supremacy. Step back—vote against the expulsion of Ayman Odeh.”
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