From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Knesset hearing on bill to deport relatives of terrorists turns into screaming match
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
A hearing at the Knesset House Committee on a bill that would deport relatives of terrorists descends into a screaming match between right-wing lawmakers and MK Ofer Cassif after Cassif, the only Jewish member of the Arab-majority Hadash-Ta’al party, clashes with the mother of an IDF reservist.
As Cassif entered the hearing, the woman told the far-left Cassif that he should be ashamed of his position. In response, the lawmaker screamed at the woman, prompting Knesset ushers to intervene.
Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen attempted to approach Cassif and the two were physically restrained by ushers.
Lawmakers began shouting at Cassif, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir calling him a “terrorist.”
As Cassif addressed the committee, which he called a “gathering of fascists,” lawmakers screamed at him to leave and called on chairman Ofir Katz to have him removed from the room.
“Lucky you didn’t bring your pager,” one MK quipped, referring to the mass attack attributed to Israel that saw thousands of Hezbollah pagers explode on the men carrying them.
Knesset ushers have to physically separate lawmakers Ofir Cassif and Almog Cohen pic.twitter.com/wq5zFF3IkV
— Sam Sokol (@SamuelSokol) October 29, 2024
