Knesset votes against ousting MK Ofer Cassif for support of ICJ 'genocide' trial

On Monday, the Knesset voted against removing MK Ofer Cassif over his public support for the charges of genocide that South Africa lodged against Israel in the International Court of Justice.

Eighty-five MKs voted in favor of ousting Cassif, while 11 voted against it. Ninety votes were needed in the 120-member legislature to approve the initiative.

The Knesset session lasted nearly three hours. Most MKs from ultra-Orthodox parties supported the proposal to remove Cassif from the Knesset. In the final hours before the vote, members of Hadash-Ta'al, led by Ahmad Tibi, tried to win over MKs from United Torah Judaism. At the same time, most members of the Yesh Atid party did not participate in the vote.

Member of the Knesset Oded Forer, the author of the initiative to remove Cassif from the Knesset, stated that Cassif should thank Yair Lapid. "It is thanks to Lapid that Cassif miraculously escaped being ousted from the Knesset," he said.