MK Zoabi gets day's suspension over usher incident

Knesset Ethics Committee suspends MK for 24 hours over July incident which saw her attacks usher who tried to remover her from plenum hall

Moran Azulay|Published: 01.03.12 , 14:03

Crime and Punishment, of sorts: The Knesset's Ethics Committee decided on Tuesday to suspend Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi (Balad) from the plenum for one day as a sanction against her over an incident in which she pushed an usher who was attempting to remove her from the plenum hall.

The incident occurred last July when, according to the complaint filed by MK Danny Danon (Likud), she interrupted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech. She was called to order by the Knesset speaker but when the interruptions continued, she was asked to leave the plenum.

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When Zoabi refused to do so, an usher approached her in order to remove her from the plenum; she refused and according to the complaint, even pushed her.

זועבי בתקרית עם סדרנית הכנסת (צילום: אוהד צויגנברג)

Zoabi forcibly removed from Knesset (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

"The Ethics Committee takes the incident... very seriously," a committee statement said. "Knesset Members who are asked to leave the plenum should do so of their own accord, without putting the Knesset ushers in a position where physical confrontation is necessary, and in any case they are forbidden from using physical force against the ushers."

The committee further noted that: "In her behavior MK Zoabi broke the rules of ethics that mandate Knesset members maintain the dignity of the Knesset and respect its members, as well as the rule that obligates the Knesset Member to act in a manner appropriate to her station as a Kneset member."

Therefore the committee has decided to impose a one day suspension on the day after the ruling is placed before the Knesset. The suspension means she will not be able to take part in Wednesday's plenum meetings but will be able to be present at the votes that occur during her suspension.