It is highly unusual for the Knesset speaker or any of his deputies to order the House ushers to physically remove MKs from the podium or the plenum hall, despite the fact that the Knesset's bylaws afford him the authority to do so. Still, on Tuesday Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud) had two Arab MKs removed: Hadash Chairman Mohammad Barakeh was removed from the plenum hall immediately after addressing the Knesset, while Balad Chairman Jamal Zahalka was removed in mid-speech. Both had used unparliamentary language: Barakeh told Feiglin and Yisrael Beytenu MK David Rotem he "hopes they choke," while Zahalka called the deputy speaker a "fascist" six times, adding "neo-Nazi" as he was being removed from the podium. Leftists and Arab MKs who attended the plenum session boisterously protested Feiglin's decision and a few of them demanded that he let Zahalka finish his speech or adjourn for the day. Tempers flared even more when several MKs chose to leave their seats and approach the speaker's podium to protest further. As a spectator I felt that the shameful verbal exchange was merely a heartbeat away from turning into a physical altercation between the MKs. We have witnessed such disgraceful spectacles in other parliaments around the world, and unless MKs, from all across the political spectrum, decide to show some maturity, responsibility and tolerance, we may soon see a similar spectacle on the plenum floor. The ruckus that followed Zahalka and Barakeh's removal from the hall saw all Meretz MKs storm the podium to rebuke Feiglin, but not one of them saw fit to denounce the Arab MKs over their slanderous statements. Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Gal-On said that "freedom of expression demands wide margins," but where does one draw the line? How wide do the margins have to be? It is unimaginable that an MK would take the podium and use the cover of his immunity to slander other MKs to his heart's content. On the other hand, the Knesset speaker, and especially his deputies, should exercise restraint and tolerance. The plenum is no stranger to harsh language, even harsher than what was heard on Tuesday -- like when Likud MK Miri Regev called on Balad MK Hanin Zoabi to "go to Gaza" in 2010 -- but MKs have not been removed from the plenum before. The speaker's deputies should also refrain from making comments or engaging in dialogue with the MKs addressing the plenum from the podium. Feiglin kept interrupting Zahalka even before all hell broke loose; and when he serves as deputy speaker, MK Ahmad Tibi (Ra'am-Ta'al) is also in the habit of commenting and correcting MKs while they are in mid-speech. It is not their job. They are not there to censor the MKs. Meanwhile, the legislators claiming Feiglin had no authority to remove the Arab MKs would be wise to peruse the Knesset's bylaws. Article 42 clearly states: "Should the speaker decide an MK's conduct in the plenum violates the orders of Article 41, he must call him to order.
If an MK has been called to order while addressing [the plenum], the speaker will instruct him to leave the podium or return to his seat." Article 41 states, "In the plenum, an MK will speak in the appropriate manner, using acceptable language and in a manner that observes the honor of the Knesset." I believe words like "choke," "fascist" and "neo-Nazi" fall far short from observing the honor of the Knesset. Still, one could expect the deputy Knesset speaker to be wise, and not just right.
