Israel: Far-right MP calls for deporting 'disloyal' politicians
Far-right Israeli MP Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for disloyal politicians to be deported from Israel, along with Palestinians who throw stones and Molotov cocktails at police.
Speaking to Army Radio, the MP for the Jewish Power party listed a number of prominent politicians and groups he believed should be removed from the country.
“When we form the government, I will promote the Deportation Law, which will deport anyone who acts against the State of Israel or IDF soldiers,” Ben-Gvir said in the interview.
“Those who throw stones and Molotov cocktails at soldiers will be deported from here. Those who work against the state like Ofer Cassif will be deported. Maybe to Europe. They need working hands there.”
Although he said the law would not apply to Jews, Cassif is the sole Jewish MP for the left-wing, pro-Palestinian Joint List party.
Ben-Gvir also mentioned the party's leader Ayman Odeh as someone he would deport "on a train", as well as members of the anti-Zionist ultra-Orthodox Neturei Karta sect.
On Monday, he announced that Jewish Power would run independently in the upcoming 1 November general elections, after having previously run as part of the Religious Zionism coalition.
The election, announced after parliament was dissolved on 30 June, will be the country's fifth in less than four years.
Ben-Gvir's comments were condemned by a number of politicians.
Zehava Galon, a politician with the centre-left Meretz party, said on Twitter that it was "time to expel Ben-Gvir from the Knesset".
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