Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Joint Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi traded barbs at the Knesset plenum Wednesday after Tibi accused Israeli soldiers operating on the Israel-Gaza border of committing "war crimes."
Netanyahu took the podium for an impromptu address during a parliamentary session discussing the targeted killing of top Islamic Jihad commander Baha Abu al-Ata, which trigged a barrage of rockets on Israel by the terrorist group, seeking to avenge its leader.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Commenting on the operation on Tuesday, Netanyahu stressed it was approved unanimously by the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, over the fact that it was ordered by an interim government.
"Some MKs are doing the unthinkable and have called Israeli soldiers and the Israeli government war criminals," Netanyahu admonished over the podium.
"They [the MKs] sanctify the terrorists' war crimes! This is a great injustice against IDF soldiers and commanders, who spare no effort to minimize civilian casualties. [Gaza] terrorists hide among civilians – that is a war crime. Nothing said in this hall will change that fact," Netanyahu exclaimed.
Tibi then approached the podium and called at Netanyahu, "You're a liar! This campaign means to save you [from legal troubles]".
Refusing to heed Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein's calls to order, Tibi was then removed from the plenum hall by Knesset ushers.
The prime minister continued, saying, "Terrorists hide among civilians precisely because they know we'll spare no effort to protect civilians from harm," he said, stressing that the government and military often abort missions if they place innocent lives in danger.
"Our homefront defense tactics are studied the world over," he stated.
Also on Wednesday, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett issued a statement on al-Ata's assassination, saying, "The IDF took vital action for the security of Israel. This [al-Ata's elimination] should send a clear message to all of our enemies: Whoever plans to harm us during the day, cannot be sure that he will make it through the night."
