Bishara exercises 'freedom of speech'
Photo: Niv Calderon
MK Erdan suggests alternate tenure to Bishara
Photo: Kobi Kantor
MK Orlev, author of the bill
Photo: Gil Yohanan
MK Bishara to MK Erdan: Go f*** yourself
During Knesset committee meeting regarding law to ban MKs who support or identify with terror organizations, National Democratic Assembly chairman aims expletive at colleague from Likud. Following Arab MK's removal from meeting, committee decides not to approve law
An intense debate raged Tuesday during the Knesset's Constituion, Law and Justice committee meeting, centered on potential legislation to terminate the tenure of members of Knesset supporting or identifying with terror organizations.
MK Gilad Erdan (Likud) in favor of the legislation, told Chairman of the National Democratic Assembly MK Azmi Bishara - clearly in reference to the MK's meeting with Bashar Assad - that he could "go hold a position in Syria". In response, Bishara told him "you can go f*** yourself."
Erdan appealed to the Knesset ethic's committee pursuant to the behavior of Bishara and other MKs during the meeting.
Previous Bishara comments
Azmi Bishara attacks what he refers to as ‘attempts by Zionist parties to steal votes from Arab sector,’ criticizes those willing to accept mere discussion on voting for Zionist parties. Arab MK also criticized Jewish MKs for ‘handing out grades’ to Arab counterpart; ‘this constitutes internal colonialism of the worst kind,’ he says
The suggested legislation was submitted by National Religious Party Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev. MK Orlev's words were drowned out my constant catcalls from Arab MKs, leaving him unable to elaborate and expound his support of the bill.
After Bishara's explicit comment, he was kicked out of the meeting by committee chairman MK Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima).
A vote was held after two hours of debate, during which the majority of committee members opposed the legislation.
At the end of the meeting, MK Orlev said, "Most of the committee members supported the bill during a straw poll, but MK Ben-Sasson's personal agenda made him crazy and caused him to usurp the vote."
MK Orlev's bill was first conceived after a number of Arab MKs met Hamas members in east Jerusalem, and solidified after several statements by Arab MKs not condemning the kidnapping of IDF soldiers and supporting violent resistance by Hamas.
When Orlev first presented the legislation in July, he told Ynet: "Either the Arab MKs - who know how to hold back and restrain themselves during election time - continue to keep their mouths shut, or the law will restrain them."
"I cannot accept a situation in which MK Bishara stands at the Knesset podium and is unwilling to condemn the kidnapping of soldiers that took place within Israel's internationally recognized borders," he stated.
"I cannot accept a situation in which MK Ibrahim Sarsur (United Arab List-Ta'al Chairman) meets with Hamas ministers and encourages them."