Member of the Hadash-Ta'al party, Ofer Cassif announced on Sunday that he would be joining the lawsuit against Israel in the Hague.
In his announcement, he claimed, "My constitutional duty is to Israeli society and all its residents, not to a government whose members and its coalition are calling for ethnic cleansing and even actual genocide."
Immediately afterward, he stated, "Those who hurt the country and the people are the ones who led South Africa to turn to The Hague, not me and my friends."
"I will not give up the struggle for our existence as a moral society," Cassif concluded. 'That is true patriotism - not wars of revenge and calls for destruction, not unnecessary bloodshed, and not the sacrifice of civilians and soldiers in futile wars.'"
Widespread condemnation of his remarks
Several MKs have condemned his actions, including MK Sharon Nir of Yisrael Beiteinu, who suggested he resign from the Knesset and said that he is sure that supporters of terrorism would "welcome [him] with open arms."
An organization, Btsalmo (In His Image), called for the ethics committee to remove Cassif from the Knesset after Cassif announced he would join the lawsuit against Israel in the Hague. According to its website, Btsalmo is a self-described human rights organization with a focus on Jewish rights, although not exclusively.Its primary effort in the past has been to ensure that the homes of terrorists are demolished. The organization also seeks to prevent "incitement in culture" against Israel and Jews.
Btsalmo has taken action against Ofer Cassif within the past month for disparaging IDF troops during war.
The Knesset quickly moved to punish Cassif for his comment
The chairman of the Israel Beitenu faction, MK Oded Forer, began to collect 70 signatures from members of all factions in the house in order to bring about the removal of MK Ofer Kasif from the Israeli Knesset on Monday morning, the day after Cassif's announcement.
MK Oded Forer stated, "The treasonous words of MK Kasif can no longer be heard while the blood of our soldiers and citizens is crying out from the ground. MK Kasif, who was previously disqualified from running for the Knesset following a petition I submitted to the election committee, has chosen during the war to join one of the most destructive initiatives for the security of the State of Israel, and thus he supports the struggle of Hamas against Israel. He must soon find himself beyond the borders of the Knesset and preferably beyond the borders of the State of Israel."
The Basic Law of the Knesset Section 42a.(c)(1) states that the Knesset may, by a majority of 90 members, decide to terminate the membership of a member of the Knesset if it has determined that the member, after the election of that Knesset, has supported an armed struggle of an enemy state or terror organization against the State of Israel (section 7a).
The law states that after a collection of signatures from 70 members of the Knesset is submitted to the Knesset committee, the impeachment procedure for the removal of MK Kasif, which will require 90 members of the Knesset to vote for, can begin.