66 MKs sign petition to expel Ayman Odeh from Israel’s Knesset
February 7, 2025
Israeli Arab member of Knesset Ayman Odeh gestures as
he speaks during a joint Israeli Arab demonstration, on
8 June 2024 [Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images/LightRocket via
Getty Images]
Sixty-six members of the Israeli Knesset have signed a petition calling for MK and head of the Hadash and United Arab List for Change, Ayman Odeh, to be expelled from the Knesset.
The signatories cited a post by Odeh on X last month, in which he expressed happiness at the release of Israeli captives and Palestinians as part of a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel.
“From here, the sons of both peoples must be freed from the occupation. Because we were all born free,” he wrote.
According to Israeli law, if the number of signatories reaches 70, the exclusion procedures can begin, with Odeh having to appear before the Knesset Committee and the General Assembly for questioning and if the number of signatories reach 90, the decision will go to the Supreme Court, which will have the final say.
Responding to the petition, Odeh said, while he adheres to his humanitarian position, the ruling establishment in Israel sees the Jewish people as distinct from other peoples.
“This is pure racism. For many years, I have been repeating clearly and methodically that I am against harming any innocent civilian, but of course, the Palestinian people have the right to resist the occupation, and I always emphasise in this context that the occupation is the root of evil,” he added.
Hadash and United Arab List for Change have categorically rejected the campaign of persecution waged against Odeh, saying it reflects “the ruling establishment’s spite over failing to achieve Gaza war goals”.
The bloc said it stands with Odeh and called on Jewish groups to confront this fascism which aims to delegitimise Arab citizens so the far-right can further control the government and continue its judicial coup.