Right-wing protesters assault MK Ayman Odeh, attack his car, chant ‘Death to Arabs’

Right-wing demonstrators on Saturday assaulted Arab lawmaker Ayman Odeh and attacked his car as he traveled to an anti-war protest in Ness Ziona, days after the Knesset failed to approve a motion to expel him from the legislature over controversial comments he made on the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Demonstrators could be heard repeatedly cursing Odeh and chanting “death to Arabs” in a video filmed from inside the vehicle.

Police arrested three Ness Ziona residents on suspicion of damaging Odeh’s vehicle, including cracking the windshield, describing the attack as “rare and severe.”

A police statement added that the force was examining further evidence to identify and arrest additional suspects.

Speaking with the Haaretz daily, Odeh described how “a few dozen surrounded the car, banged on the car and broke the glass.”

“I’m [now] a little bit further off and am waiting for instructions, but as far as I’m concerned, I intend to speak [at the rally] if the organizers want. I will not let the fascists win,” he said.

According to the newspaper, police had promised organizers of the anti-war protest that reinforcements would be deployed after the organizers warned of potential violence.

“The police were not properly prepared and the violence is running rampant,” one of the organizers was quoted as saying. “There are not enough forces to bring the rioters under control.”

In another video from Ness Ziona, apparently taken after Odeh was assaulted while in his car, he was seen speaking atop a balcony as the right-wing protesters continued to heckle and assault him.

The protesters threw objects at him, and, in one case, attempted to prod him with a flag pole.

Police officers could be seen pushing back the unruly crowd.

The right-wing protesters also surrounded and yelled at Hadash-Ta’al MK Ofir Cassif, who later accused the government of supporting political violence.

“Just so it’s clear: There is legitimacy and even encouragement from the government to violence and murder of its opponents,” he wrote on X.

In a statement of his own on Saturday night, Odeh accused the police of standing by and doing “nothing” when he was attacked by the right-wing mob.

“This morning, we were informed that fascist extremists had threatened to attack us if we showed up, but we decided not to back down. We decided that no one will silence our voices,” he wrote on X.

“I was attacked by dozens of thugs. They assaulted my staff and me with stones, sticks, and anything they could get their hands on. They surrounded our car, shattered the windows, and shouted ‘Death to Arabs’ the entire time. All the while, Ben Gvir’s police stood by and did nothing. Not a single arrest,” the Hadash-Ta’al chair continued.

“But even in the face of such terrible violence, we will not be silent. On the contrary: it only strengthens our resolve, and our will to fight,” he said.

“We do not surrender to fascism. We stand firm against it, Jews and Arabs together, and we will defeat it. The struggle is clear: Democracy or fascism. As we did tonight, I will stand tall in the face of fascists, with my head held high, and I will attend every protest across the country.”

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, The Democrats chairman Yair Golan and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz all denounced the violence toward Odeh, with the latter calling on coalition members also to condemn “this dangerous incident.”

“I condemn the violence against MK Odeh and call on the police to find those responsible and bring them to justice. There is no place for political violence in a democratic state,” Lapid wrote on X.

Golan asserted that the incident was the “direct result of prolonged political incitement,” citing the failed effort to boot Odeh from parliament.

“Those who vote in the Knesset in favor of ousting an Arab public official because of his opinions cannot be shocked when rioters attack him in the street,” Golan said, calling the incident “an attack against the entire Arab minority in Israel.”

Within the government itself, a lone statement of condemnation was issued by Interior Minister Moshe Arbel of Shas, who demanded that law enforcement bring the “violent rioters” to justice.

“The entire leadership must condemn acts of violence in a clear and unequivocal manner and without any hesitation,” he said.

Several diplomatic missions to Israel also expressed solidarity with Odeh in the wake of the assault.

“Solidarity with Arab Israeli MK @AyOdeh after thugs attacked his car apparently chanting racist slogans,” wrote Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, on X. “Violence against democratic lawmakers is unacceptable.”

“Such an assault on an elected representative is unacceptable,” echoed a statement from the deputy British ambassador to Israel, Ben Myers.

The incident came after the Knesset on Monday failed to pass a motion to expel Odeh from the legislature, with only 73 out of the required 90 lawmakers voting in favor. Fifteen MKs voted against the motion, while multiple opposition parliamentarians boycotted the vote.

The petition was put forth in January, after Odeh said he was “happy for the release of hostages and prisoners,” referring to a deal with Hamas that saw some of those abducted by terrorists on October 7, 2023, freed from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian inmates held in Israeli prisons, many of whom were convicted on terror charges.

The petition clinched the number of signatures required to bring it to a vote after Odeh said during an anti-war protest in Haifa in May that “Gaza has won and Gaza will win.”