Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen announced on Sunday forthcoming legislation that would mandate all members of the Knesset to pledge allegiance to Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state during their swearing-in ceremonies. The proposed law explicitly targets Palestinian lawmakers who oppose this designation, with Cohen asserting they “have no place in the Knesset of Israel,” specifically naming politicians Ahmad Tibi and Ayman Odeh.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Israeli and Palestinian members of parliament. Odeh, leader of the Hadash alliance, and Tibi, head of the Arab Movement for Change (Ta’al), have faced substantial criticism from their Israeli counterparts. In late June, Israel’s Knesset House Committee advanced impeachment proceedings against Odeh by a 14-2 vote, with support from both coalition and opposition parties, following comments perceived as pro-Palestinian and critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The political confrontation intensified when Odeh expressed support for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas earlier this year, drawing condemnation from numerous Israeli lawmakers. He further faced backlash for remarks made during an anti-war demonstration in Haifa. Simultaneously, Tibi encountered legal scrutiny after criticizing Israeli police spokesperson Arye Doron regarding police brutality against Palestinian citizens, prompting authorities to seek criminal investigation for allegedly insulting a civil servant.
This legislative initiative occurs within a broader context of increasing legal restrictions on Palestinian rights. According to documentation by legal center Adalah, Israel has enacted over 30 laws since October 2023 that reinforce systems of apartheid and repression against Palestinians. These measures, implemented between October 2023 and July 2025, target fundamental rights including freedom of expression, protest, citizenship, family unification, and equality protections.
The legal expansion includes broader application of counterterrorism legislation almost exclusively against Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of occupied East Jerusalem. Adalah reports that Israel has exploited the wartime environment to accelerate discriminatory practices, now documenting approximately 100 discriminatory laws overall. These regulations criminalize political expression, authorize family deportations, restrict social benefits, expand detention powers, limit legal counsel access, and enable closure of independent media outlets.