Israeli parliament passes bill to allow ouster of inciters

JERUSALEM – Israel’s parliament has passed a charged bill that would allow the assembly to oust a sitting lawmaker deemed to be inciting against the state.

The bill, which was passed early Wednesday, would require a three-quarter majority of parliament’s 120 members to expel a lawmaker for inciting racism or supporting violence against the state.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the bill, saying “those who support terrorism … won’t serve in Israel’s Knesset.”

Opposition leaders called the measure anti-democratic.

The bill is largely seen as targeting Israel’s Arab lawmakers, many of whom have been accused of siding with enemies such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Some recently paid a condolence visit to families of attackers who killed Israelis.

Some lawmakers said they plan to appeal to Israel’s Supreme Court to cancel the bill.