Late last month, in a dramatic prelude to the law's passing, more than a dozen Jewish MKs stormed across the chamber towards Zoabi as she made a speech concerning the Israeli government's reconciliation pact with Turkey. She had to be protected by Knesset guards.
She had outraged the MKs by referring to the "murder" of 10 humanitarian activists by Israeli commandos in 2010. The Israeli navy attacked an aid flotilla, in which Zoabi participated, as it sailed in international waters from Turkey to Gaza. The incident led to the split with Ankara.
Rather than criticize the Jewish MKs, Netanyahu said Zoabi had "crossed every line" with her comments against the commandos and there was "no room for her in the Knesset."
Similarly, opposition leader Isaac Herzog called for all of Zoabi's speeches to be censored from the Knesset TV channel.
Celebrating the law's passage, Netanyahu posted on social media: "Those who support terrorism against Israel and its citizens will not serve in the Israeli Knesset."
Zeidan said the new law was a "dangerous escalation" in a wider trend of suppressing dissent and inciting hatred. "We are entering a new era. Before, there were racist laws and policies, but now we are heading rapidly towards outright fascism.
"The constant incitement against the Palestinian minority from the prime minister down moves this on to the street, where there will be more violence and more attacks from the Jewish public on Palestinian citizens."
Zoabi was reported to have refused a Knesset bodyguard this month, even though the level of threats against her required it, according to Israeli police.
Proceedings against a politician can be initiated with the backing of 70 MKs. An expulsion will be carried out if 90 MKs find that the politician either incited racism or supported armed struggle against Israel. There is no definition in the legislation of what constitutes "support."
The Knesset will be able to take into account the legislator's statements -- and the majority's interpretation of them -- and not just actions or stated aims, noted Adalah.
"If we see these attacks on Arab representation in the Knesset continue, then voters may conclude that enough is enough and that it is time to withdraw from the political game." -- Asad Ghanem, politics professor at Haifa University
Until now, a politician could be removed from the Knesset only if convicted of a serious crime.
Netanyahu spearheaded the legislation in February after Zoabi and her two Balad colleagues in the Knesset, Jamal Zahalka and Basel Ghattas, met a dozen Palestinian families from occupied East Jerusalem whose sons had been killed either during lone-wolf attacks or in clashes with security services. The three MKs promised to help put pressure on the government to return the bodies for burial.
Israeli officials claimed the visit was tantamount to support for "terror." The three were suspended from the Knesset for several months. Under the new law, they could be permanently expelled.
Zahalka, leader of the Balad party, said Palestinian MKs would face a "kangaroo court, where hostile MKs serve as judge and jury."
He said the Joint List faction was preparing to send a letter to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, an organization representing 170 parliaments worldwide, urging it to oust the Knesset from membership.
Given the large majority needed for an MK's expulsion to take place, some have claimed the new law will be nearly impossible to implement.
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