MK Eitan Cabel (Labor) petitioned the High Court Tuesday along with two former Knesset members against a decision to revoke the rights of MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad), over her participation in the flotilla toGaza in May.
The petition claims that the Knesset had decided to revoke someof Zoabi's rights because her opinions on the flotilla are perceived as worthy of condemnation by many MKs.
The petitioners note that they too find the Arab MK's opinions outrageous, and that her condcut conveys a sense of blindness and indiscretion, but stress that freedom of speech must be safeguarded even in this case.
Cabel, along with former MKs Ami Ayalon and Amram Mitzna, suggests that the revoking of Zoabi's rights creates a dangerous precedent that may lead to the same treatment of other MKs simply for having opinions that differ from the majority.
"Israelis who devoted their best years to the defense of Israel and the welfare of its citizens are distressed by Zoabi's deeds, but Hanin Zoabi and her annoying opinions must not threaten Israeli democracy," the petition says.
It also stresses that a love of democracy, and not Zoabi, was the motivation behind the petition. Regarding recent reports that the Arab MK knew about the intention of activists on board to attack IDF soldiers, the petitioners say this warrants a criminal investigation, but not a revoking of rights by the Knesset.