Ramallah: Palestinian Member of the Knesset Haneen Zoabi has been banned from all parliamentary activity with the exception of voting for a period of six months.
The ban was imposed on Tuesday by the Knesset Ethics Committee after complaints of incitement were made against the parliamentarian by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and other members of the Knesset.
In his complaint, the speaker claimed that members of the public had asked him to move against Zoabi because she had made “statements bordering on incitement, encouraging violence and supporting terrorism”.
In her response to the panel in relation to the criticisms Knesset member Zoabi stated, “I admit that my political and parliamentary activity, like my declarations and opinions, represent political opinions and values that completely contradict those reflected in the complaints. I represent a vision of justice, freedom, equality and an uncompromising battle against racism, oppression, discrimination, dispossession and disenfranchisement.... I will not give in to those who are trying to silence me, punish me and take revenge on me.”
In its ruling, the committee stated, “The public in Israel, like in any country, expects that the members of its parliament, who declare allegiance to the state, will not encourage those who attack it and want to kill its soldiers and citizens.”
The six-month ban begins today and will continue through the parliamentary recess. When the Knesset resumes its meetings in October, Zoabi will be permitted to vote but will be unable to make speeches or ask questions.
The ban on Zoabi is the first punishment of its kind in the history of the Knesset.
The Jerusalem Post has cited Deputy Transportation Minister Tzipi Hotovely of the Likud party as calling for harsher sanctions against the parliamentarian. “The Knesset did something symbolic today, but as long as she continues to get a salary from Israel and be an MK, the fiasco continues. The right thing to do is have her dismissed from the Knesset.”
