The committee agreed to forego the standard 45-day waiting period for a preliminary vote on the bill. The vote in the parliamentary plenum will take place next week.
The bill was submitted last week by Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party-National Union) following public statements by Arab MKs [pictured] expressing support for the Hamas leadership of the Palestinian Authority. The Arab legislators condemned the arrest of dozens of Hamas members and referring to the IDF as "a terrorist organization."
In contrast, the Arab MKs refused to condemn the kidnapping and murder of Eliyahu Asheri. At least one of them also said that the kidnapping of Corp. Gilad Shalit was a legitimate "military operation," and that Shalit was a prisoner and not a hostage.
"Particularly during these days, when our soldiers are fighting against terrorists," Orlev explained, "there are expressions by a number of Arab MKs identifying, supporting and encouraging terrorist groups like Hamas. It is therefore urgent that the legal process be sped up."
Current law bans individuals who support terrorist organizations or who identify with them from running for the Knesset, but there is no restriction against expressing support for terrorists after the individual is elected. MK Orlev's bill addresses that lacuna.
MK Orlev demanded that MK Ahmed Tibi (Ra'am-Ta'al) condemn the Hamas and Popular Resistance Committee attack and kidnapping of Cpl. Shalit last week. Tibi refused to do so, saying that attacks on soldiers are more legitimate than on civilians, referring to statements by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in April to that effect. Tibi also condemned the widespread IDF counter-terrorism operations in Gaza.
MK Orlev said on Sunday that he had asked Arab MK Azmi Bishara (National Democratic Assembly) "how he, as a citizen of this state, can not want to protect its army - and then he [Bishara] said, 'It's not my army.' "
"The Arab MKs are joining Hamas's blood dance and should be banned from the Knesset," Orlev said. "They support and encourage Hamas against the IDF and against the state and therefore they have no place in the Knesset." On Thursday, Orlev said that the statements by Arab MKs led him to ask himself if he was "in the Knesset or in the Palestinian Authority legislature."
The bill was submitted last week by Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party-National Union) following public statements by Arab MKs [pictured] expressing support for the Hamas leadership of the Palestinian Authority. The Arab legislators condemned the arrest of dozens of Hamas members and referring to the IDF as "a terrorist organization."
In contrast, the Arab MKs refused to condemn the kidnapping and murder of Eliyahu Asheri. At least one of them also said that the kidnapping of Corp. Gilad Shalit was a legitimate "military operation," and that Shalit was a prisoner and not a hostage.
"Particularly during these days, when our soldiers are fighting against terrorists," Orlev explained, "there are expressions by a number of Arab MKs identifying, supporting and encouraging terrorist groups like Hamas. It is therefore urgent that the legal process be sped up."
Current law bans individuals who support terrorist organizations or who identify with them from running for the Knesset, but there is no restriction against expressing support for terrorists after the individual is elected. MK Orlev's bill addresses that lacuna.
MK Orlev demanded that MK Ahmed Tibi (Ra'am-Ta'al) condemn the Hamas and Popular Resistance Committee attack and kidnapping of Cpl. Shalit last week. Tibi refused to do so, saying that attacks on soldiers are more legitimate than on civilians, referring to statements by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in April to that effect. Tibi also condemned the widespread IDF counter-terrorism operations in Gaza.
MK Orlev said on Sunday that he had asked Arab MK Azmi Bishara (National Democratic Assembly) "how he, as a citizen of this state, can not want to protect its army - and then he [Bishara] said, 'It's not my army.' "
"The Arab MKs are joining Hamas's blood dance and should be banned from the Knesset," Orlev said. "They support and encourage Hamas against the IDF and against the state and therefore they have no place in the Knesset." On Thursday, Orlev said that the statements by Arab MKs led him to ask himself if he was "in the Knesset or in the Palestinian Authority legislature."