Israeli Parliament enacts impeachment law

Some Arab parliamentarians have enraged Israel’s Jewish majority by meeting with families of some of the Palestinians killed during a recent surge in attacks on Israelis. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the new law ended “The absurd situation” whereby someone who “supports terror against the State of Israel and its citizens” could serve as a member of parliament. Passed by a 62-47 vote, the bill is also seen by campaigners as the latest example of legislation promoted by Netanyahu’s right-wing government attempting to curb freedom of speech. 

“This is one of the most serious legislative proposals in recent years and it harms the very building blocks of democracy - the right to freedom of expression, the right to vote and to be elected, and the right to representation,” said Debbie GH of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel. 

But the law could be more symbolic than practical, as it needs at least 90 of the house’s 120 members to vote in favour of any impeachment.