Israeli Knesset Moves to Expel Arab MP Ayman Odeh Despite Legal Warnings
Critics Warn of Rising Fascism as Odeh Calls Decision a Blow to Free Speech and Arab Political Representation.
Watan-The Israeli Knesset’s Internal Affairs Committee voted on Monday in favor of advancing the expulsion of Arab MP Ayman Odeh, head of the Hadash-Ta’al alliance, despite serious legal objections from the Israeli government’s own Attorney General.
In response, Odeh emphasized that the move is not merely a personal attack but a dangerous escalation against freedom of expression for all Arab citizens and a direct strike against what remains of democratic space in the Knesset.
“What’s happening to me today can happen tomorrow to any Arab MP who speaks up—and, of course, to any Arab citizen,” Odeh said. “We cannot retreat in the face of this exclusionary path. Backing down would open the door to the persecution of every free voice.”
He accused the supposed opposition of siding with Netanyahu’s far-right coalition:“Instead of defending democracy, they’ve chosen to ally themselves with Jewish supremacy and political repression.”
Odeh concluded by declaring:“This is not about me—it’s about our right to political representation and freedom of speech. My stand is a stand for my people; stepping back would be a betrayal.”
“A Political Execution” — Opposition MP Denounces Process
Jewish-Israeli communist MP Ofer Cassif blasted the committee hearing as a “kangaroo court” and a “political execution”:“It was a surreal display of incitement, with committee members competing over who could shout louder, incite more, or hurl more personal attacks,” he said.
Cassif, who was expelled from the session twice, added:“While I was removed for defending myself, the chair allowed MKs and even guests to insult and threaten me physically without any intervention.”
Legal and Human Rights Condemnation
The Adalah Legal Center in Haifa slammed the vote as an unlawful, politically-motivated action marred by personal incitement and disregard for legal norms.
Adalah noted that the session was filled with racist and inciteful rhetoric against Odeh and Arab-majority parties from both coalition and opposition members.
Knesset committee chair Ofer Katz (Likud) even declared:“In a respectable country, Ayman Odeh would rot in prison and not hold citizenship.”
Despite this incitement, the committee moved forward with the expulsion request, ignoring the legal counsel of the Knesset’s attorney general, who stated that the social media post in question did not meet the legal threshold for disqualification under Section 7(A) of Israel’s Basic Law—a view echoed by the Public Prosecution’s representative.
The vote came during the committee’s second session to deliberate the expulsion demand, with members arguing Odeh’s positions contradicted his alleged “loyalty to the state and its military.”
Final Decision and Legal Path Forward
To finalize the expulsion, the measure must secure the support of 90 Knesset members in a full vote—and must not be overturned later by the Israeli Supreme Court.
Adalah: A Racist, Anti-Democratic Precedent
Dr. Hassan Jabareen, director of Adalah, stated:“There’s no evidence that Odeh’s statements violated any laws or warrant criminal investigation. It’s no coincidence no legal case was opened against him, nor that the Knesset’s legal advisors supported our view.”
He added:“The overwhelming Knesset support for an expulsion lacking legal justification shows the rise of racist, fascist sentiment targeting Arab MPs and parties. What happened today may preview the upcoming elections—likely marked by a fierce right-wing offensive against Arab representation.”
Adalah concluded that this is not just an attack on Ayman Odeh, but on everyone who dares to challenge Israel’s ethnonationalist majority in parliament.
