A stormy discussion in the Knesset committee on the demand to impeach MK Ofer Kasif/Knesset channel
The Knesset committee met this morning (Monday) to discuss a request to remove from the Knesset MK Ofer Kasif, from the Hadash party.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Speaker of the Knesset, attorney Sagit Afik, reviewed the impeachment procedure before the members of the Knesset and said, "You must consider only material considerations and understand that precedential authority is given in exceptional extreme cases. The law is that a critical mass of clear and unambiguous evidence is required that shows that the support for the struggle Armed with a terrorist organization is a dominant feature of Kasif's activities, and he is working to implement it."
The initiator of the move, MK Oded Porer from Israel Beitenu read the petition signed by MK Kasif against Israel's war in Gaza, for which he began the impeachment process.
"The text of the petition expresses clear support for the false position of Hamas, which aims to stop the war, and allow Hamas to hold 136 hostages while continuing to fire rockets at Israel," he ruled.
"Kasif's support for the lawsuit is considered as if he filed it himself. The weight of this evidence is enough to constitute a critical mass for impeachment. This is not just a statement, but an actual act. This is not a post on Facebook, but taking a side in an international legal proceeding against Israel. He used In his position and status as a MK in order to discredit Israel's claims and support the position of Hamas."
"Kasif's support for the lawsuit is considered as if he filed it himself."
MK Ofer Kasif/Knesset Speaker, Noam Moshkowitz
MK Porer added that "the purpose of the impeachment is not to punish MK Kasif, but to protect Israel from those who threaten to eliminate it. Kasif's act during a war, when the State of Israel is licking its wounds, is active support in the armed struggle of a terrorist organization against Israel. Kassif crossed the red line a long time ago," he continued.
"There is no dispute that Hamas is a terrorist organization, as far as it is concerned, the struggle continues all the time. Any support for the Hamas organization, in its ability to exist, recover or arm itself, constitutes support for the armed struggle against Israel."
MK Hanoch Milivitsky of the Likud erupted during Forer's remarks, after a comment by one of the Arab Knesset members and shouted: "You are all terrorists, supporters of terror.
It's not just that the lawyers who defend you represent supporters of terrorism.
You are a fifth brother-in-law."
MK Porer concluded his remarks in the committee and urged the members of the Knesset to support the impeachment: "We cannot wait any longer with Kassif's impeachment. In the past he was given opportunities to return to the political space of freedom of expression. Now he crossed the lines and became the servant of our enemy and Hamas A vote in favor of his removal is a vote in favor of Israel's right to defend itself, the people of Israel are watching you and expect you to support the country in its difficult time."
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This is the solution
The discussion in the Knesset committee, today/Knesset spokeswoman, Noam Moshkowitz
Attorney Michael Sephard, who represents MK Kasif, said in the committee: "This procedure is dramatic because if the impeachment request is accepted, then the request, the will and the choice of 178 thousand Israeli citizens will be seriously harmed. This is the reason that when the impeachment law came up for discussion, President Herzog, at the time a Knesset member, said very harsh things about him."
Spain explained why the impeachment law is problematic.
"Even though it passed the constitutional review, the court established very strict rules for its operation," explained the MK's attorney from Hadash.
"When it comes to impeachment, one of two reasons must be met: I heard MK Porer accuse Kasif of all kinds of things.
This is not a reason for dismissal.
Everything else may be a matter for public debate, but you can only vote for impeachment if you are fully convinced that he supports an armed struggle by Hamas against Israel.
Everything else is color.
An ugly, hard or nauseating color, but it's relevant."
More on the same topic:
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