On June 24, 2025, a hearing took place in the Israeli Knesset that could mark a turning point in the relationship between the country’s Jewish majority and Arab minority. On the agenda was an initiative to expel MK Ayman Odeh, one of the most prominent figures in Palestinian civil society and the head of the Jabha/Hadash party. This event represents yet another link in the chain of political persecution targeting Arab lawmakers in Israel.
One Post — and a Full Expulsion Procedure
The trigger for the hearing was a single social media post by Ayman Odeh in January, in which he expressed support for a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas and voiced hope for an end to the occupation. That alone was deemed sufficient to launch expulsion proceedings — a process established by the so-called “Expulsion Law” (Amendment No. 44 to the Basic Law: The Knesset).
According to this law, an MK can be expelled for incitement to racism or for supporting armed struggle against the State of Israel. The procedure requires signatures from 70 MKs, including 10 from the opposition, and must be approved by a three-fourths majority (90 out of 120). Yet even these strict requirements were not met: according to the legal organization Adalah, most of the complaints fail to meet legal standards, and the case rests on a single statement — one that is clearly protected by laws guaranteeing freedom of expression.
Legal Absurdity or Political Repression?
According to attorney Hassan Jabareen, General Director of Adalah, the case against Odeh is nothing less than a politically motivated attempt to silence and discredit Palestinian representatives in the Israeli parliament. “Even if the Expulsion Law were to be considered legitimate, in this case it is being applied in blatant violation of legal norms. This is a politically driven case without a proper legal foundation,” the organization said in a statement.
The Israeli Supreme Court had already reviewed the Expulsion Law in 2018 and upheld it despite opposition from human rights organizations. Even then, there were warnings that the law would be used as a tool for repressing political dissent. Those warnings, Adalah now says, have come true.
A Blow to Free Speech and Palestinian Identity
The case surrounding Odeh is not only about the political fate of one lawmaker. It is a test for Israeli democracy. Under the guise of procedural legitimacy, an attempt is being made to punish speech — the expression of an opinion that deviates from the official state narrative. What’s more, that opinion is not a call for violence, but rather a message of hope for peace and an end to the occupation.
The precedent set by Odeh’s case is an alarming signal to all citizens of Israel. It demonstrates that even full participation in parliamentary life and adherence to the law do not guarantee the right to express dissenting views. If someone can be expelled for a post expressing hope for peace, it means the boundaries of what is permitted are shrinking into silence.
Not an Isolated Case: Action Against Touma-Sliman and Others
Alongside the case against Odeh, the Knesset Ethics Committee also sanctioned MK Aida Touma-Sliman for statements accusing the Israeli military of committing war crimes in Gaza. Once again, the punishment was not for actions but for words. For a stance that does not align with the state’s official rhetoric. For attempting to be a voice of conscience in a time of war.
A Struggle Over Political Narrative
The attempt to expel Ayman Odeh is not just an attack on an individual politician — it is part of a broader struggle over control of the political narrative. The state seeks to eliminate any alternative perspective from the legitimate political space, especially if it comes from the Arab minority. This case must be seen not as an isolated incident but as part of a broader strategy to push Arab voices out of the public and political arena.
Today, it is Ayman Odeh. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to speak on behalf of the minority. If society fails to push back against this trend, freedom of speech may become little more than a formality in a country that once took pride in its parliamentary democracy.
After the Knesset Committee decided to begin the process of expelling him, MK Ayman Odeh declared:
“I take back not a single word. History will vindicate me, and it will judge you. You want to portray me as a radical. You’re trying to silence me because I always speak to both peoples. Even my tweet was written in Hebrew and spoke about the right of both peoples to live in freedom, dignity, and equality. Fighting for the rights of both peoples is not radicalism. Radicalism is supporting a regime of Jewish supremacy — as you do. The voice of morality — a voice that is taken for granted around the world — is considered radical only in Israel. I am not the radical here — you are. I am proud of my position. I do not retract it, I do not apologize, and I will continue to fight, together with my partners, until we build a different future here — a better future for all of us, to live in peace, security, equality, and true democracy. You will walk back your words. But I take back not a single word, not a single letter, not a single comma, not a single period. History will vindicate me, and it will judge you.”
MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) on the debate over Ayman Odeh’s expulsion:
“This is not about Ayman Odeh — it is about the delegitimization of two million Arab citizens. Anyone who doesn’t understand the connection to the assault on democracy and free elections is out of touch with reality. Formally, the discussion is about his removal from the Knesset. But the essence and the true goal are entirely different: the complete delegitimization of two million Arab citizens and their exclusion from political life in the State of Israel. Anyone who fails to see the link between this initiative and the broader attack on democracy, the attempt to entrench the rule of the ultra-nationalist alliance, and the assault on free elections in Israel — simply doesn’t understand what is happening. The fact that members of the opposition signed onto this Kahanist initiative is a disgrace.”
