Yisrael Beiteinu MK Esterina Tartman on Monday backed down from her intention to submit a bill that would grant the Knesset power to revoke the membership of a legislator deemed to be anti-Israeli.

Under the bill, a majority of 80 lawmakers could expel MKs who oppose the existence of the State of Israel as a democracy, are found responsible for racist incitement, or support armed resistance against Israel.

Tartman withdrew her proposal at the request of Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik (Kadima), after left-wing lawmakers were outraged by the law, which was presented at a Knesset House Committee meeting.

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Upon submission, the Yisrael Beiteinu MK also requested that her bill be brought for a preliminary reading in the Knesset this week, bypassing the standard 45-day waiting period for new bills.

During the stormy debate, MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) said "a similar bill was passed in the 1930s by the Reichstag in Nazi Germany, where 95 Communist parliamentarians were expelled."

Coalition chairman MK Avigdor Yitzhaki (Kadima) who backs the bill replied, "I have done a hundred times more for the Arabs than you; stop saying the nonsense that this is a racist bill."

MK Mohammed Barakeh (Hadash) fired back: "All the people sitting here think they are running a military regime."

Likud faction chairman, MK Gideon Sa'ar, also expressed his dismay at the bill, saying it goes too far. MK Zehava Galon (Meretz) said "this is a racist bill, which seeks to turn the Knesset into a judiciary tribunal; it contridicts constitutional principles and would not survive the scrutiny of the High Court."

MK Barakeh slammed Yitzhaki for his support of the bill. "Your support of such a racist bill is part of the way in which Kadima prostitutes itself in order to let Yisrael Beitenu into the coalition," he said.

Tartman respondend to the allegations, saying her bill is not directed against Arab MKs, but against anyone who goes against the state. She said she would consider when would be the appropriate timing for submitting her bill before the Knesset.