Arab Israeli MK Hanin Zoabi (Joint Arab List) was removed from a Knesset committee meeting on Monday after calling Israeli soldiers "murderers" for their treatment of Palestinians.
The Education, Culture, and Sports Committee meeting focused on a new bill, submitted by Habayit Hayehudi faction leader Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli, aiming to ban organizations that are critical of the Israel Defense Forces from addressing high schools.
Breaking the Silence, which collects testimonies on Israeli soldiers' alleged mistreatment of Palestinians in the territories, is one such organization. It has been particularly vocal in its criticism of the IDF's conduct and has consistently offered up evidence of purported abuse. This has irked defense officials, who accuse the organization of unjustifiably maligning the military.
Right-wing MKs were outraged by Zoabi's outburst. MK Anat Berko (Likud) called her a "terrorist" in response.
Mualem also attacked Zoabi, saying: "If I were to say that all Arabs are murderers, would that be acceptable? You should be ashamed of yourself!"
Committee Chairman MK Yakov Margi (Shas) ultimately had to ask for Zoabi to be removed from the hall in an effort to restore order.
Zoabi has repeatedly used inflammatory language against IDF soldiers. In 2010, when IDF commandos clashed with pro-Palestinian Turkish activists aboard a ship bound for Gaza, in violation of the Israeli blockade, Zoabi, who was aboard the vessel, called the troops murderers. She was later disciplined by the Knesset Ethics Committee.
