Israeli Supreme Court rejects petitions against Expulsion Law, allowing MKs to oust colleagues

The Israeli Supreme Court on Sunday evening, 27 May 2018, unanimously rejected petitions filed by Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel and other human rights groups against the Expulsion Law.

The Expulsion Law, which was legislated in 2016, allows a majority of 90 Knesset members to oust a serving Knesset member on two grounds: 1) incitement to racism; and 2) support for armed struggle against Israel. The law was passed as an amendment to the Basic Law: The Knesset and targeted Arab MKs, due to their vocal opposition to Israeli government's policies.

In response to the court’s ruling, Adalah and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) – which both petitioned against the law together with MK Yousef Jabareen – issued the following response on Sunday night:

"The Israeli Supreme Court has failed in its role as defender of the minority. The court has subordinated human rights to the will of the predatory majority, which is acting openly to eject the Arab Knesset members from Israel’s parliament. The Supreme Court ruled that the law applies equally to all, though it is patently clear to all that the only individuals who will be harmed by the law are Knesset members from minority – primarily Arab – parties. The Israeli Supreme Court chose today to turn its back on Arab Knesset members and to leave them exposed to persecution stemming from the narrow political considerations and interests of their colleagues.

"There is no doubt that the politicization that has permeated the process of disqualification of Arab members of Knesset before each election will also apply to expulsion proceedings.

"This judicial stamp of approval raises serious fears regarding the ability of the Israeli Supreme Court to defend minorities against government measures."

CLICK HERE to read the Supreme Court decision [Hebrew]

(Photo by Israel Tourism/Wikimedia Commons)