Ramallah: The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, approved late on Tuesday the so-called ‘ouster law’ which allows 90 lawmakers out of 120 members of parliament to oust a sitting colleague.

After a stormy debate on the bill, it passed into law with the support of 62 Knesset members, while 47 other lawmakers voted against.

According to the ouster law and in order to launch expulsion proceedings, 70 Knesset members, 10 of whom must be from the opposition, may file a complaint with the speaker against any lawmaker who supports armed struggle against the regime or incites people against it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the Knesset for approving the bill. “The new law puts an end to the absurdity. Those who support attacks against the state of Israel and its citizens won’t serve in Israel’s Knesset,” he said in a Facebook post on his page. “Like in any democracy in the world, Israeli democracy also has the right and duty to defend itself.”

The new legislation was harshly criticised by some Israeli lawmakers who branded the law as “apartheid” and anti-democratic.

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog slammed the legislation saying on Twitter that “the law is a dark mark on Israel’s face. The hate-filled government is busy winding the rift that threatens Israel more than any outside enemy”.

“This expulsion law marks the end of Israeli democracy,” said Israeli lawmaker Yoel Hasson.

Meretz party chairwoman and member of Knesset (MK) Zehava Galon said, “This law is one of the most embarrassing episodes in the Knesset.”

“The history will not forgive those who had a hand in this,” said MK Nachman Shai.

The Joint Arab List said in a statement that this law is targeting only the Palestinian lawmakers and it is meant to oust them from parliament. The list, whose members are mostly Palestinian citizens of Israel, said they will appeal against the law with the Israeli Supreme Court.

“The law would turn the Arab lawmakers into members of the Knesset on probation,” said Yousef Jabarin, a member of the Knesset from the Joint Arab List. “This is apartheid legislation, which paves the way for a political transfer of the Palestinian’s public’s elected officials.”

Another member of the Joint Arab List, Dov Hanin, said the law is an example of the tyranny of the majority. “The law directly targets the Palestinian public’s elected officials, chosen to voice their stances,” he said. “This law is a black page on Israel’s code of laws, which reflects anti-democratic policy and manoeuvres by an anti-democratic government, which will go on to harm more and more population.”