Israel: Communist MP Aida Touma-Sliman sanctioned over statements against Gaza War

Aida Touma-Sliman and Ofer Cassif (Photo: Zo Haderech)

Knesset Ethics Committee suspended Wednesday a leading Communist Party of Israel lawmaker, MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash) from the plenum sessions and committee meetings for a period of two months over statements she made against the war in Gaza.

The Touma-Sliman’s post read: “And they still insist: The ‘most moral army in the world’ does not harm innocents and does not attack hospitals!” That evening, the army spokesman issued an official statement saying that the military is not striking [Palestinian Hospital in Gaza Strip] Al-Shifa.” Touma-Sliman said her words were taken from “repeated Palestinian testimonies in the hospital” that she had given and subject to “the right of freedom of speech given to members of Knesset.”

Israel election: Left alliance Hadash-Ta’al wins five seats in Knesset

Ayman Odeh (right) with Ta'al leader Ahmad Tibi.

The left-wing joint list Hadash-Ta’al, which is supported by the Communist Party, has received five seats in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) following November 1st legislative election which marked the return of the far-right Netanyahu leadership. The ultra-conservative Likud Party won 32 seats in Knesset and is back in government. 

The eight parties of what might be termed the “anti-Netanyahu bloc” – comprising the outgoing coalition parties, together with Hadash-Ta’al and Arab Balad party — attained near-parity, with 2,330,464 votes. 

Israel Election: Left-wing Israeli-Arab "Joint List" alliance achieves historic success

Joint List chairman Ayman Odeh (Hadash) declared yesterday (Tuesday, March 3) that the alliance of Hadash, Balad, Ta’al and Ra’am had realized a “huge achievement” in Monday’s Israeli general elections for the Knesset after nearly-final results suggested it won 15 seats in the 120-seat parliament. 

As the Communist Party of Israel reports, the election results showed that more than 530,000 voter, Arabs and Jews, cast their ballots for the Joint List.