Latest news with #AymanOdeh
The National
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Israel's Knesset vote on the West Bank is an alarming development
To gauge how noxious Israeli politics has become, one need only consider what the past month has been like for Ayman Odeh, the Arab leader of a coalition of leftist parties. The Knesset, Israel's legislature, moved to impeach Mr Odeh for a tweet earlier in the year in which he said he was 'happy for the release of [Israeli] hostages and [Palestinian] prisoners' – the inclusion of both groups in the same sentence apparently too much for his detractors. Parliamentarians voted overwhelmingly – 73 to 14 – for Mr Odeh's expulsion, but a boycott of the session by Ultra-Orthodox parties over an unrelated issue prevented the 90-vote threshold required from being met. Then, last weekend, Mr Odeh was attacked on his way to an anti-war protest in central Israel. His assailants cracked the windshield of his car while he was inside, and chanted 'Death to Arabs'. Police, Mr Odeh says, stood by and did nothing. The silence from his fellow parliamentarians has been deafening. Yet it is little surprise, considering the anti-Arab mood in the Knesset appears to be at a fever pitch. On Wednesday, the legislature voted in favour of a non-binding motion to annex the West Bank, a Palestinian territory whose long-standing occupation by Israeli security forces is illegal under international law. The West Bank is a critical part of historic Palestine and any future Palestinian the vote was overwhelming, with 71 for to 13 against. The Knesset resolution called on the government 'to apply Israeli sovereignty, law, judgement and administration' over large areas where illegal Jewish settlements are present, and noted the entire territory is 'an inseparable part of the land of Israel', to which Israel has a 'natural, historical and legal right'. The anti-Arab mood appears to be at a fever pitch Ten Arab and Islamic countries, along with the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, released a statement on Thursday roundly condemning the Knesset resolution. The statement, of which the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were signatories, called the resolution 'a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international law', adding it will 'only fuel the growing tension in the region, exacerbated by the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe'. The resolution has been viewed by Israeli politicians as a largely symbolic measure, as it does not carry the force of law. But it is deeply problematic, both as an antagonistic barb against the dignity and rights of Palestinians and as a barometer of public sentiment. While it is true that the statements and votes of Members of the Knesset belie more nuanced public opinion, the picture is still disturbing. A poll conducted by The Jerusalem Post in February found that 35 per cent of Israelis favour a 'Jewish-only state, from the river to the sea'. This would, in effect, include the prospect of annexation of the West Bank and the end of hopes for a Palestinian state. The pro-annexation movement is about much more than territorial claims. It inherently denies Palestinians the right to exist as a national community – it is no coincidence the most prominent supporters of annexing the West Bank apply their logic to Gaza, too. The fact that it has become an ideological staple in the Knesset makes its success as eventual national policy much likelier, and that ought to alarm everyone in the region, as well as Israel's allies in the West. A generalised acceptance of lawlessness and oppression among most of a country's politicians can have concrete consequences. Even if the annexation resolution is symbolic, the violent assault against Mr Odeh was very real.
The National
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Israel's Knesset has become a forum for extremism
To gauge how noxious Israeli politics has become, one need only consider what the past month has been like for Ayman Odeh, the Arab leader of a coalition of leftist parties. The Knesset, Israel's legislature, moved to impeach Mr Odeh for a tweet earlier in the year in which he said he was 'happy for the release of [Israeli] hostages and [Palestinian] prisoners' – the inclusion of both groups in the same sentence apparently too much for his detractors. Parliamentarians voted overwhelmingly – 73 to 14 – for Mr Odeh's expulsion, but a boycott of the session by Ultra-Orthodox parties over an unrelated issue prevented the 90-vote threshold required from being met. Then, last weekend, Mr Odeh was attacked on his way to an anti-war protest in central Israel. His assailants cracked the windshield of his car while he was inside, and chanted 'Death to Arabs'. Police, Mr Odeh says, stood by and did nothing. The silence from his fellow parliamentarians has been deafening. Yet it is little surprise, considering the anti-Arab mood in the Knesset appears to be at a fever pitch. On Wednesday, the legislature voted in favour of a non-binding motion to annex the West Bank, a Palestinian territory whose long-standing occupation by Israeli security forces is illegal under international law. The West Bank is a critical part of historic Palestine and any future Palestinian the vote was overwhelming, with 71 for to 13 against. The Knesset resolution called on the government 'to apply Israeli sovereignty, law, judgement and administration' over large areas where illegal Jewish settlements are present, and noted the entire territory is 'an inseparable part of the land of Israel', to which Israel has a 'natural, historical and legal right'. The anti-Arab mood appears to be at a fever pitch Ten Arab and Islamic countries, along with the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, released a statement on Thursday roundly condemning the Knesset resolution. The statement, of which the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were signatories, called the resolution 'a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international law', adding it will 'only fuel the growing tension in the region, exacerbated by the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe'. The resolution has been viewed by Israeli politicians as a largely symbolic measure, as it does not carry the force of law. But it is deeply problematic, both as an antagonistic barb against the dignity and rights of Palestinians and as a barometer of public sentiment. While it is true that the statements and votes of Members of the Knesset belie more nuanced public opinion, the picture is still disturbing. A poll conducted by The Jerusalem Post in February found that 35 per cent of Israelis favour a 'Jewish-only state, from the river to the sea'. This would, in effect, include the prospect of annexation of the West Bank and the end of hopes for a Palestinian state. The pro-annexation movement is about much more than territorial claims. It inherently denies Palestinians the right to exist as a national community – it is no coincidence the most prominent supporters of annexing the West Bank apply their logic to Gaza, too. The fact that it has become an ideological staple in the Knesset makes its success as eventual national policy much likelier, and that ought to alarm everyone in the region, as well as Israel's allies in the West. A generalised acceptance of lawlessness and oppression among most of a country's politicians can have concrete consequences. Even if the annexation resolution is symbolic, the violent assault against Mr Odeh was very real.
The National
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Ayman Odeh: The Palestinian-Israeli politician taking on the 'fascist' right
Six months ago, Palestinian-Israeli politician Ayman Odeh wrote of his joy that hostages captured by Hamas would be released in exchange for Palestinian detainees, under a ceasefire deal in Gaza. "Happy about the release of the hostages and prisoners. From here, we must free both peoples from the burden of occupation. We were all born free," his post read. Today, he is still paying the price for what was criticised as an attempt to equate Palestinian and Israeli situations. But despite attempts to attack him politically and physically, he continued to defy his critics. This month, the Knesset – Israel's parliament – failed to pass a motion to impeach him. He was then assaulted at an anti-war, anti-government rally in the city of Ness Ziona. In videos seen by The National taken by Mr Odeh's team, but too offensive to publish, extreme-right protesters were seen banging on the car he was in at the time, making obscene hand gestures and even chanting "death to Arabs". A decision was made he would go ahead and speak at the anti-war rally anyway. After he took to the stage, protesters hurled rocks at Mr Odeh, until it was too unsafe for him. Speaking to The National, Mr Odeh described his attempted impeachment as "an important battle with a success against fascists". But he says there are attempts by the extreme far right in Israel to "alter the Palestinian-Israeli identity". "They want us to be Arabs, without being Palestinians who believe in our nationalist cause. And Israelis, without having the same civil liberties as a Jewish citizen," he said. "That's why they were triggered by my post." Mr Odeh believes he is not being targeted but being used as a "means to an end". During the Israeli war with Iran, he said, the main topics being discussed were Iran and efforts to impeach him. "When they asked [a member of the Knesset] why I'm on the list of topics, he said it's because I'm considered the 'eighth war front'. "They want to wage a war on Palestinians." The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Adalah) worked closely with Mr Odeh. Speaking to The National, Adalah public relations specialist Moatasem Zedan said some of the organisation's efforts included sending messages to officials urging them to hold Mr Odeh's suspected attackers accountable. He said in many cases the legal process is not followed where it should be, despite the suspects being known. "This is unusual but not unexpected," he said. "Mr Odeh is the target of an incitement campaign against him." But the case of the Palestinian-Israeli politician is a symptom in a wider problem. "The assault on Ayman Odeh is not a separate issue from what Palestinians in Israel experience," he said. Violence against Palestinians in Israeli communities is being seen on a daily basis in the form of assaults on Palestinian labourers, for example, Mr Zedan said. "We also see policy brutality, including humiliating searches - which is part of a campaign that weaponises law as a tool for vengeance," he said. Ceasefire push With the Knesset now in a summer break for two months, and inter-coalition disputes at bay, the time is ripe for a ceasefire to be reached in Gaza, Mr Odeh said. Additionally, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff en route to the region while talks between Hamas and Israel take place in Doha, hopes for an imminent ceasefire are high. But Mr Odeh does not believe that a permanent end to the war in Gaza will be seen under the current Israeli government. He, along with many members of the opposition in Israel, believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is intentionally prolonging the war in Gaza for his own personal political gains, as he battles a court case against him that has been postponed repeatedly for security-related circumstances. "October 7 gave the right, the best excuse to change the geostrategic realities of the Palestinian cause. But when the war is over, there will still be 7.5 million Palestinians between the river and the sea," Mr Odeh said.
Arab News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Israel's democracy robbers seek to silence Palestinian opponents
For those of you who are not familiar with the Palestinian member of the Knesset Ayman Odeh, he is a rare combination of a thinker, a passionate politician and an extremely affable person. He can also be sharp-tongued and unsparing of rivals from his opinions, including his fellow Palestinian citizens of Israel, but especially those among Israeli society whose idea of coexistence is of Jewish supremacy on either side of the Green Line. Above all, he is a man of peace and great integrity who believes in Israeli-Palestinian coexistence as equals, of which a two-state solution is a key element. Odeh has rattled the political system to the extent that a right-wing Likud MK, Avichai Boaron, initiated his impeachment for writing on X in January that 'I am happy about the release of the hostages and the prisoners. We must now free both peoples from the burden of occupation. Because we were all born free.' Not a sentiment that was particularly harsh, and surely not an incitement to violence. It is difficult to know whether this was a case of an anonymous member of parliament trying to get some attention or whether, as Boaron claimed, Odeh was equating the hostages with Palestinian 'terrorists' and if the call to free people from 'the burden of occupation' constituted a legitimization and call for violence. Obviously, mentioning both the hostages and the prisoners in the same sentence does not mean equating them, and in any case there is nothing illegal about that. Worse, one MK who fails to understand the difference between calling to end the occupation and calling to do that by using force is unfortunate. But for 70 MKs, of whom at least 10 are from the opposition, as the law requires, to sign a petition asking the Knesset House Committee to open impeachment proceedings is a collective eclipse of democratic judgment. And in the Orwellian atmosphere of today's Israeli politics, the Knesset House Committee decided, while brushing aside the recommendation of the Knesset's legal adviser to the contrary — for lack of legal grounds to justify such an extreme step — to advance the impeachment of Odeh to a vote in the Knesset plenum, citing his 'support for the armed struggle of a terrorist organization against the state of Israel.' Although not part of the original accusations against the leader of Hadash, his cause was not helped by his own recent statement at a rally that 'Gaza won and Gaza will win.' This was more a case of simply hoping that the people of the Strip would prevail despite the mass killings and devastation inflicted on them for many months, and the attempts to force Gaza's residents into to a tiny part of the territory and then possibly out of it, and for good — not for them to militarily defeat Israel. The only reason Odeh is still an MK is that 90 MKs are required to support this bluntly antidemocratic measure and 'only' 73 out of 120 supported this shameful motion in a vote in the Knesset. The very fact there was such a big majority in favor of expelling a lawmaker for expressing his views — which admittedly many might find offensive but do not meet the criteria of inciting to violence or endangering the country's security — is more a testimony to the sorry state of Israeli democracy than Odeh's alleged threat to the state. And it is especially in times of war that the pluralism of ideas should be maintained and minorities should not be excluded from expressing their ideas. After all, many of the Palestinian citizens of Israel have relatives in Gaza, of whom thousands have been killed in the war. However, the story is not only about Odeh, but also his detractors questioning the legitimacy of the entire Palestinian population of Israel, who are citizens and, in principle, enjoy equal rights to their Jewish fellow countrymen, although reality is very different. It would be naive to harbor any expectations that the current members of Israel's governing coalition would respect democratic procedures if they did not suit them. For nearly three years, they have repeatedly demonstrated a destructive mixture of utter ignorance of the very fundamentals of a liberal democracy and sheer contempt for them. However, the fact that several so-called more liberal-minded members of Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party supported the motion to impeach Odeh — while Lapid and the rest of his party's MKs, along with those of Benny Gantz's Blue and White-National Unity party, boycotted the vote — is beyond disappointing and concerning. With the exception of the left-wing Democrats led by Yair Golan, who voted against impeaching Odeh, the other Zionist parties' behavior illustrates that, for them, championing freedoms does not extend to the Palestinian citizens of Israel, exemplifying the constant retreat of Israeli democracy from the Israeli Declaration of Independence. In the middle of a truly existential war, its founding fathers included a commitment that the country 'will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.' The founding fathers understood that there is no partial democracy; it either applies equally to everyone, or it is not a liberal democracy. It is especially in times of war that the pluralism of ideas should be maintained and minorities should not be excluded. Yossi Mekelberg And there is also the tragic irony, or just the shamelessness, that many of those who voted to oust Odeh for supporting political violence nevertheless encourage the use of unabated violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Among them are settlers who illegally live in the West Bank, a minister of national security who was convicted of supporting a terrorist organization, and those who repeatedly say that there are no innocent people in Gaza, support starving and expelling them and, given an opportunity, would do exactly the same in the West Bank too. Yet, no one even suggests reprimanding them, let alone impeaching them, because their discourse has been normalized and legitimized over recent years. Also normalized is the exclusion of parties that represent the Palestinians citizens of Israel, preventing them from serving in government as legitimate partners. Odeh was not impeached. However, this saga has left the bitter taste of a country whose lawmakers persecute their political opponents and especially target a minority through very dubious legal procedures. In Odeh's case, the Knesset's blushes were spared, but only thanks to the wisdom of yesteryear's legislatures, which set the bar very high for ousting an MK. But this is hardly any consolation. As long as Benjamin Netanyahu and his democracy robbers hold on to power, it is just a matter of time before they seek to water down this too in order to eliminate their political rivals.
The Standard
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Standard
Netanyahu in tight spot after party quits Israeli coalition
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walks in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on the day of a vote over a possible expulsion of Ayman Odeh from parliament, in Jerusalem, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
