Ayman Odeh: The real struggle in Israel is between Fascism and Democracy

Photo: Zo Haderech

Nationwide demonstrations calling for a Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, as well as protests far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, were scheduled to take place on Saturday night, July 12, as negotiations between Israel and Hamas have reportedly stalled.

Hadash MK Ayman Odeh was the main speaker at the weekly demonstration in the Jewish-Arab city of Haifa, he asserts that the “real struggle” in Israel is “between fascism and democracy” and “between occupation and freedom.” 

The Man Who Humiliated Netanyahu: On the Political Persecution of Comrade Ayman Odeh in Israel

By Nikos Mottas

While committing genocide in Gaza, the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu is simultaneously waging another war. This time within Israel, against the "internal enemy" who condemns and exposes the vile, genocidal acts against the Palestinian people.

These “enemies from within”, who have not stopped denouncing Netanyahu's leadership since the beginning of the war, have been fighting for years in extremely difficult conditions, in favor of peace and against the occupation.  

Israel: Solidarity with Hadash leader Ayman Odeh

Two weeks ago, Ayman Odeh, MP and head of the Parliamentary Group of Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality), was violently removed from the podium of Knesset for denouncing the genocide in Gaza. 

In a demonstration held in Haifa on May 31, Odeh sharply criticized the far-right Israeli government, claiming the country has become isolated internationally. “Israel has become a pariah state among the nations of the world, including in the West,” Odeh stated. 

KKE expresses solidarity with Hadash leader Ayman Odeh who was forcefully removed from Knesset

In a statement issued today, the International Relations Department of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) expresses its solidarity with Ayman Odeh, head of the Parliamentary Group of Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality), who was violently removed from the podium of the Israeli parliament for denouncing the genocide of the Palestinian people.

The statement reads:

 

Communist Knesset member Cassif: "They are trying to silence us, there’s a fascist atmosphere in Israel"

Racist Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen announced past week that he would begin collecting lawmakers’ signatures to initiate impeachment proceedings against Hadash MK Ofer Cassif, condemning what he described as the Communist legislator’s “vile and disgraceful comparison of the voluntary emigration program for Gaza residents to the voluntary emigration of Jews from Nazi Germany.” 

In November, Cassif was suspended from the Knesset for six months over comments he made about the Israeli army war in Gaza. Under the terms of his suspension, Cassif is not allowed to enter the Knesset plenum or committee meetings except to vote.

Israeli left-wing MP Ayman Odeh expelled from the Knesset because he condemned the massacre in Gaza!

The chairman of Hadash-Ta'al left alliance and MP, Ayman Odeh, was removed from the Knesset plenum on Wednesday, following statements against the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the devastating humanitarian situation there.

"What the army is doing there is murder, it is a massacre - the starvation of children," Odeh said, adding that "there is blindness of heart and there is blindness of conscience. I appeal to you to be a real opposition against this government and its crimes in Gaza. There is a position regarding October 7, but what the army is doing there is a crime, it is killing, it is murder, it is a massacre". 

McCarthy in the Knesset: Hadash deputy Ofer Cassif expelled from Israeli Parliament

Members of the Knesset committee on Tuesday took a key step toward expelling MP Ofer Cassif (Hadash) over his support for the South African-led International Court of Justice case accusing the Israeli Government of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The following day, the extreme-right, racist Minister of National Security of Israel, Itamar Ben Gvir, published on his social network a photo of comrade Ayman Odeh (Head of the Hadash-Ta'al coalition) with Khalida Jarrar (Palestinian PFLP parliamentarian), with a comment threatening the revocation of Comrade Todeh's mandate.

Israel: Communist lawmaker Ofer Cassif faces possible expulsion from Knesset

Seventy Knesset members signed a motion on Monday to support the expulsion of lawmaker Ofer Cassif (Hadash) from the Knesset over his support of South Africa’s petition against the Israeli government at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Cassif announced on Sunday that he would be joining the lawsuit against the war in Gaza in the Hague. More specifically, in his announcement, he claimed:

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.