Hanin Zoabi suspended from Knesset for 6 months

The Knesset's Ethics Committee on Tuesday has decided to bar MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad) from all plenum sessions and committees' meetings for the next six months, following multiple complaints filed against her by MKs over her anti-Israel statements.

A suspension is the harshest sanction the committee can impose on MKs. A six-month suspension is the maximum period of time the committee can order, and Zoabi is the first MK to be subjected to this punitive measure in full.

According to the Knesset's own bylaws, however, Zoabi would still be able to vote on the various issues brought before the plenum during her suspension, and the decision will not affect her wages or any of the other benefits she is entitled to as an MK.

Zoabi, who is no stranger to controversy, came under fire recently for saying the abductors of Israelis teens Gil-ad Shaer, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frenkel, who were kidnapped and murdered in June, were "not terrorists," and for accusing the government and the military of committing war crimes in Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge.

The Attorney-General's Office was asked to investigate Zoabi for incitement following her remarks, but eventually decided against an investigation. After Zoabi clashed with police in Haifa two weeks ago, the police said they would launch a criminal investigation against her for incitement to violence and offending public servants.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein was among the legislators who filed complaints against Zoabi with the Ethics Committee, citing an article she published recently in which she urged a Palestinian uprising against Israel.

"I'm familiar with the Ethics Committee's policy of defending the political freedom of speech of MKs in general and those representing minorities in particular, and as the speaker of the house I support it, but in this case, I believe MK Zoabi has crossed all lines of acceptable behavior," Edelstein said.

"The number of complaints that have reached my office indicate that this is not a case of 'regular' harsh statements, the likes of which the Knesset often sees, but a case of persistent and deliberate provocative behavior that seeks to erode and undermine the Knesset's position in the public's eye, which is why I believe the Ethics Committee should exercise its power in a way that would send a message, to both MK Zoabi and the public, that the right to political freedom of speech does not grant anyone the right to support terrorist organizations."

The Ethics Committee's ruling, rendered by a majority vote, read: "Knesset members have every right to express views outside the consensus and publicly criticize the government, even in wartime, but while such criticism is not in violation of the [Knesset's] Code of Ethics, there is a clear difference between legitimate criticism and protests, harsh as they may be, and encouraging enemies of the state and terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

"The Israeli public expects its elected officials, who declare their allegiance to the state, to refrain from endorsing those who seek to kill them, and they expect that those criticizing the government will do so only with Israel's best interest at heart. MK Zoabi's statements have exceeded the boundaries of legitimate expression, as expected of MKs, and constitute an affiliation with enemies of the state."

Zoabi's statements urging the Palestinian Authority to cease all security cooperation with Israel and encouraging a Palestinian uprising "seek to directly compromise Israel's national security," the committee said.

"Given the severity of MK Zoabi's statements, we find that imposing the harshest sanction at the committee's disposal is warranted. The suspension will take effect immediately and will end on Jan. 31, 2015," the committee ruled.

As the Knesset is about to embark on its summer recess until Oct. 28, Zoabi's suspension will be in effect for only three months.

The Balad MK declared the decision "vengeful, unconstitutional and anti-democratic" and said she would appeal it before the High Court of Justice, on the grounds that it is "illegal and unconstitutional."

"I unequivocally reject the complaints and the ruling, which reflect a dominant culture of racism and the need to control and repress people's political views. I represent a vision of justice, freedom and equality, and the unwavering fight against racism, oppression, disenfranchisement and discrimination. We cannot capitulate to those who disagree with me and want to punish me and shut me up," Zoabi said.

"I admit that my political activity represents opinions and political values that are different, but these complaints are motivated by racism and anti-democratic sentiments."

Many MKs welcomed the Ethics Committee's decision.

"It's not enough to remove Hanin Zoabi from the Knesset for six months -- she should be removed from Israel to Qatar, where she could join her party member, the traitor Azmi Bishara," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

MK Miri Regev (Likud) lauded the ruling, saying, "I have no doubt that Zoabi will join other Hamas official underground and I will achieve my goal of stripping her of her immunity. Zoabi's impeachment is closer than ever -- there is no room for traitors in the Knesset."

MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) said, "Hanin Zoabi is unworthy of being a citizen of the State of Israel. The Knesset made a symbolic gesture, but as long as [Zoabi] is on the Knesset's payroll this national disgrace is perpetuated. The right thing to do is to impeach her."

MK Avi Wortzman (Habayit Hayehudi) welcomed the decision, calling it "the first step toward justice. We will continue to pursue MK Zoabi's impeachment, so that we can ensure she is indicted for what she has been doing for years -- aiding and abetting the enemy."

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