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Coalition lawmakers disrupt Knesset event on settler violence, threaten attendees
🇵🇸 Palestine /Elections & Politics

Coalition lawmakers disrupt Knesset event on settler violence, threaten attendees

From Times of Israel · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Coalition lawmakers disrupted a Knesset event focused on settler violence against Palestinians, shouting at and threatening attendees.
  • The event, titled “Transfer in Practice: Palestinian Communities Under Attack,” was organized by Arab-majority Hadash-Ta’al lawmakers.
  • Right-wing lawmakers accused participants of supporting terrorism and called for the expulsion of Palestinians, while organizers stated the occupation would end and the current government would fall.

Coalition lawmakers on Tuesday stormed a Knesset event addressing settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, creating a scene of disruption and threats. The event, titled “Transfer in Practice: Palestinian Communities Under Attack,” saw right-wing legislators enter the hall, shouting at attendees including Israeli peace activists, civil society groups, diplomats, and bereaved families.

May two thousand of your mothers weep and not one of ours.

— Almog CohenOtzma Yehudit lawmaker Almog Cohen shouted at attendees during a Knesset event on settler violence against Palestinians.

The word "transfer" in the event's title refers to the forced expulsion of Arabs from Israel or the West Bank. Footage from the event showed lawmakers verbally attacking participants. Almog Cohen of Otzma Yehudit told attendees, “May two thousand of your mothers weep and not one of ours.” Limor Son Har-Melech, also from Otzma Yehudit, accused those present of being “terror supporters” and aiming for a “transfer of Jews from Judea and Samaria” to establish a “Palestinazi state.”

Hadash-Ta’al MK Touma-Sliman, who co-organized the event with Ofer Cassif, responded to the disruptions by stating, “You know a Palestinian state will be established, the occupation will end, and you will have to fold. And, I’m sorry to say, you have a few more days in power, but you’ll go away soon.” The event aimed to highlight what the party described as a “government policy encouraging settler violence” and the displacement of Palestinian communities.

You know a Palestinian state will be established, the occupation will end, and you will have to fold. And, I’m sorry to say, you have a few more days in power, but you’ll go away soon.

— Touma-SlimanHadash-Ta’al MK Touma-Sliman responded to disruptions at a Knesset event on settler violence.

Critics accuse the government of ignoring near-daily attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, which have led to thousands of displacements. Reports indicate that up to 80 percent of incidents recorded by Israeli troops involve Jewish attacks on Palestinians. Zvi Sukkot of Religious Zionism declared to attendees, “We will transfer you, but we’ll keep it classy. We’ll put you on organized buses and stick to the law.” Amidst the chaos, Ayala Metzger, daughter-in-law of slain hostage Yoram Metzger, was escorted out by security while being called a “terror supporter” by lawmakers.

We will transfer you, but we’ll keep it classy. We’ll put you on organized buses and stick to the law.

— Zvi SukkotReligious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot addressed attendees at a Knesset event on settler violence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of Israel in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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