Bill for the Removal of a Public Representative Supporting Armed Struggle Against the State of Israel (Legislative Amendments), 5785-2024

This bill seeks to amend the laws concerning local authority elections. The primary change is the addition of new conditions that would prevent candidates or lists from running in local elections and would allow for the removal of public representatives who have already been elected. The conditions for preventing candidacy include: denial of the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; incitement to racism; and support for armed struggle against the State of Israel. Anyone who has been in an enemy state or supported a terrorist organization against Israel will be considered as having supported the enemy unlawfully, unless they have proven otherwise in the seven years preceding the date of the candidacy submission. Additionally, it is proposed to grant the Minister of Interior the authority to remove a council member or a deputy head of an authority if their conduct or statements support armed struggle against the State of Israel, or support a terrorist organization or an enemy state. The removal of a council member would require a decision by the council with a majority of three-quarters of its members, as well as a proposal by at least ten percent of council members who are not in the coalition factions. The Minister of Interior would be able to overturn a removal decision by the council. If a council member is removed, their seat will be vacated 14 days after the council's decision. The bill also addresses the removal of MKs and seeks to allow the Minister of Interior to remove an MK who supports armed struggle against the State of Israel, similar to the existing law that allows for the removal of MKs in certain cases. The new provisions would apply to candidates for local authorities and to public representatives who have already been elected.

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