Portside

The decision to ban the UAL, the Joint List and Balad's party leader Sami Abu Shehadeh and Jewish MK Ofer Cassif from Hadash is expected to reach the Israel High Court for review. The committee said they reject Israel as a Jewish and democratic state

One Israeli civil rights group called the move an "act of McCarthyism and gagging, which severely harms freedom of expression, the right to vote, and be elected."

"This is the true patriotism—no revenge wars and calls for extermination, no unnecessary bloodshed, and no sacrifice of kidnapped citizens and soldiers in false wars," said KM Ofer Cassif.

A world-changing week

With no judicial oversight, this self-serving government can use its powers to fire and appoint anyone it wants, use public resources for pet projects and otherwise abuse its power. Israel is a very different country than the one founded 75 years ago

History is happening

Resurrected by the protest movement, the idea of a constitution has been pursued throughout Israel's history. But opposition to equality foils its fruition.

Israel has not gone crazy.It has not moved to the right. The fascists have not taken over the Knesset. Binyamin Netanyahu has not been strengthened. Far from it.Israel has moved to the center.

Polls suggest that on 22 January, Israel's Jewish majority will elect the most right-wing Knesset in Israel's history, returning prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power in a coalition packed with ultra-nationalists. For Israel's Palestinian citizens, comprising nearly a fifth of the total population, the dilemma has been how to respond to this all- but- inevitable outcome.