Knesset panel recommends revoking Arab MK's privileges

Did any of the Israeli-Arab MKs protest loudly against Hamas when Hamas was bombing Sderot 24/7?Not that I know Did any Israeli Arab protest in the streets against this bombing?Not that I know. Then wy do you call them "Israeli citizens"?

I don't get it. Don't the MKs have to take an oath to stand by the nation they represent? How is it that a person within the Israeli government can side with the enemy and it NOT be treason?! This is TREASON. This person should be summarily moved to Gaza - immediately.

Politician, infact anybody or everybody who disregards this democratic environment should choose, to abide to the local laws. Or given a choice should leave in a demonstration to pursuing of their beliefs . Israel shows too much lenience for free speech.Australia would shipped her out as she arrived back, they have no patience for outsiders, especially for government, officalsas would most other countries in our democratic societies.

She can move to Lebanon that is a free, democratic country and visit her Israeli friends, Gaza, Iran freely. If she decides to work for the Mossad, nothing will happen to her, she might even be given a medal by the sweet Lebanese Government. Oh, Israel, you are so bad, so paranoid!!!

to all those flipping out that israel is now like Iran, she is still an MK, still gets a salary, will still get her pension, can still freely criticize Israel, can run for reelection, can/continues to be on Israeli radio stations/newspapers. Perhaps not a pretty day for democracy, but NOT the end of the world. I think this is much LESS severe, and more much justified than things like banning the hijab or minarets as we've seen in France/Switzerland etc.

These are desperate acts of lashing out by a criminal regime that knows the game is almost over.

Why should she have loyalty to a nation and a state who destroyed her people and demonizes them at a daily basis? She is there to serve the interests of the Palestinian people who were not killed/exiled/posined from there lands, dot. She owes nothing to Zionism.

Bye.....Byeeeeeeeeeee

Now Isreal can call herself "The Jewish State", the democracy bit has been scrapped! Welcome to the world of Iran, Libiya, North Korea and the like. When you need money or support, as you always do, don´t cry "Democracy"....you don´t know the concept!

this is what happens when you commit treason against your country. all Knesset members take a loyalty oath to the state, just like in any other Parliament. She is lucky not to be indicted, convicted and imprisoned for aiding and abetting the enemy. Free speech has never protected treasonous acts anywhere.

the line between treason and free speech is not easier to draw. All free societies have to struggle with these types of questions. In the case of Israel, how far would an MK go before you would say they have gone too far?

Israel is still "at war" with Hamas unlike Fatah. Any citizen in most democracies who assists the enemy, Hamas, would be considered a traitor. There is a difference between "free speech" and "aiding the enemy."

She will be removed because us Israelis want her removed that is Democracy the majority is rule. She is lucky she is not being prusued for being a traitor to her country and uasing avenues to her her countries security. To the rest of you get over yourselves we see what your countries have done in the past.

Many are concerned that Israel is moving quickly away from democracy. Do we need more proof. Sadly the country will go along with this.

German-style. I wish Canada had politicians with as much courage as Ms. Zoabi. Great article!

Well is this the way to do it ? If you do not like anyone's opinion just kick her out of the parliament or revoke her privilages. Is this what we understand from democracy. Let no one speak ??

Imagine having one of the the elcted officials try to aid and comfort an implacable enemy whose sole goal is to kill jews and wipe ISrael off the map. She is not the victim of a witch hunt, but more a victim of her own stupidity. She was not elected to represent gaza or hamas or p[alestinians. She was elected to represent arabs israelies in her riding. She participated in the gaza flotilla. her actions as a member of the knrewsset were incompatible with her elected status in ISrael. She will now payn the p[rice of her stupidity. Sad but true, this has nothing to do with free speech. This is about a parliament member breaking the law and not wqanting to pay the price and trying to obfuscate and minimize her own involment. Funny how all these protester try to minimize their actions when they get caught and are held accountable

Leaving the country is a privilege? Are talking about the Soviet Union here? Perhaps the author of the article was inarticulate in his phrasing the question...but if he meant she is now a prisoner of the country, that's just repugnant.

#18 - it's not a matter of what the honorable Member of Knessset Zuabi said, but what she actually did - and that makes all the difference.

To the Israeli public, Netanyahu has succeeded. Be happy. Turkish-Israeli relationship was doomed. In Turkey, we had set up a beautiful friendship. Spain after the genocide, we had embraced them. The Jews had won us a lot in science and commerce. We used a Mediterranean partnership. Our mountains, we would share our seas. Now all empty. Iran was formerly Israel's enemies. Now, 70 million Turkish people, hostile to Israel. There is blood between us. Netanyahu, O, be happy. My biggest enemy.

We have nobody but ourselves to blame for the damage this Knesset and this government brings on Israel.

I don't agree with the decision, but if Arab MKs want to be valued as civil servants, maybe they could try to ACT like civil servants. Can anyone point to a similar situation in the world where her behavior would be accepted? Israeli Arabs could play a tremendous role in building bridges between the Arab world and Israel. Instead, they just play the "who can bash israel more" competition that the entire Arab/muslim world is currently engaged in. An other peace sabotager...

What is happening? You were once the only state in the region who allowed free speech and we in Europe hoped that your example would be be an example and a reason to support you even when your actions were questionable this could be the tipping point when you finally become a Middle Eastern country.

members of knesset and other politicians should not have privileges above the rest of the population

“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” - Voltaire Israel has a chance to prove, that it still is a democracy.

I think the time has come to remove all Arabs from Knesset. They cannot possibly be true citizens of this Jewish State....they cannot sing Hatikvah or swear allegiance to the Jewish State, ..nor can they serve in the Army properly....so no arabs in Knesset is the only possibility. They should be given all rights except the voting rights and we shouldnt be afraid of the South Africa experience so long as the Arab minority is treated equally except for voting and kneeset. Its the only real and feasible consequence to being a Jewish State for the Jewish People with Jewish values. Lets remember that not every US citizen can be the US president. Every country has some limitations on you runs their country. Democracy yes - but not a pure democracy because we are first and foremost a Jewish State.

Therefore she is subject to the hunt. Who forced her to join withher country's enemies in the first place?

-but not on a boat. Chanel 2 news coverage when she was shouted & chased by MK Anastassia Michaeli & others showed nothing of what Hanin Zoabi actually said in the Knesset, just the attack of the MKs on her. Yet again the media in Israel is judge & jury.

And you are part of it. You are instigating hatred in the hearts of the citizens of the state of Israel. You are the extended arm of the Arab/Muslim world within our state and not a small little isolated minority group. Stop your hatred, Mme Zoabi! Stop! We know you, you can't fool those who know your speeches.

LET SHE TRIES THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ON HAMAS.

Just another idiot in Knesset

We are watching democracy die here day by day without any outcry.

Kahane and Kach were banned for allegedly being racists. Balad and the other Arab parties should be banned for being racists and traitors.

she is loyal to her Arab nation and I respect that. so the question is why are we STUPID enough to allow Arab MKs. they are the ENEMY and belong in Riyhad or Cairo or Baghdad

"Whoever sails to Hamas is a supporter of terror," said Levin. Israel insists it doesn't practice collective punishment with the blockade on Gaza. Now I know why, Israel sees all of Gaza as Hamas, and Hamas as all of Gaza. That means Hamas is basically made up of the 1.5 million people in Gaza. Hence the full blockade of the entire population of Gaza. Those activists sailed for Gaza and the people of Gaza for pure humanitarian purposes. If Israel keeps equating any humanitarian effort for Gaza with support for terror, then Israel will have the blood of 1.5 million Gazans on its hands. Don't think people like MK Levin would care much about that though...

we never saw in any country a deputy who is connected with the enemy keeping its immunity. Israel is a democratic country, so it has to prove it in defending its population against traitors, spies and other aggressiv people including inside its country.

"What Zoabi did crossed the line and even in a democracy there must be red lines. Whoever sails to Hamas is a supporter of terror," said Levin." Some democracy. For all the world to see it's becoming a narrow minded bigoted police State.

For a nation which appears to have little or no opposition in the Knesset, this is obviously a sparkling example of democracy in action. Everybody must sing to the ruling parties song sheet? No dissent tolerated? A wonderful democracy.

that the public is getting tired and very angry with it. It will die down. This was fueled by the Mk saying nothing happened on that ship- even as she viewed the video of events, that many anti Israel statements including words such as Nazis, facists, etc, have increased the anger ten fold. It will die down in time. The middle east is full of passion and both arab mks and Jewish Mks have too much at times. Let it fall naturally. It is no witch hunt just a product of heated passions - of which both sides give enough fuel to.

Because she was on the boats, does not mean she supports terror. And even if she does, what does that mean in a legal sense? Can you be charged under Israeli law with saying you think terrorism is a good idea? My understanding is that it was illegal for her to be on the boat, then she should be charged under the law. The fact that she is Palestinian-Israeli is irrelevant. She must follow the law like any other citizen. If she doesn't like the law, her job is to help change it. We need to take the emotion of "traitor" and "oppressed minority" out of this. It will get us no where.

As an Israeli Jew I wish to add my name to the many people who support Hanan Zoabi and reject the arguments of anti-democrats who seek to silence her and her colleagues. Such efforts are part of a growing trend amongst the extreme Right running our country that are intended to curtail civil liberties, including freedom of speech, in the spurious name of 'national security' or 'loyalty'. Make no mistake, these people will not be stopped until Israel is turned into a true fascist state in which opposition is not tolerated in any form.

Ms Zuabi's presence on the boat would have been reassuring. In a non-paranoid Israel the plight of Gaza's ordinary citizens would have been disturbing, an open-ended siege unconscionable. In a non-paranoid Knesset, Ms Zuabi would be considered a valuable link in the chain connecting the different segments of our society with each other, upholding justice as the sole standard for all of them.