Right-wing lawmakers expressed outrage Monday after left-wing activist Haim Shadmi sought weapons for civilians to protect Palestinians in Judea and Samaria against alleged settler violence.
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Addressing Knesset members, Shadmi said: "Give us the permission to use weapons. We'll do the work for the Palestinians. We won't hurt anyone. If you're not capable of doing the job, we'll save lives."
The remarks were made during the highly controversial "Stop Settler Violence" conference that was organized by MKs Mossi Raz (Meretz), Osama Saadi (Joint List), and Ibtisam Mara'ana (Labor) as well as the left-wing groups Breaking the Silence, Yesh Din and Peace Now. The Religious Zionist Party had unsuccessfully tried to get the event canceled.
"A red line was crossed today," Yesha Council chairman David Elhayani said with regard to Shadmi's comments. "A man was given the authority to incite terrorism in the Knesset against Jews. We call on Knesset members and ministers to condemn the incident and ensure that such conferences no longer receive a stage in the Knesset."
Interrupting the conference, MK Itamar Ben Gvir exclaimed, "Why talk about violence and not mention the murder that occurred yesterday? There is no mention of violence against settlers, soldiers, police officers."
Ben Gvir was referring to Sunday's terrorist attack, in which Hamas terrorist Fadi Abu Shahidam wounded four people and killed 26-year-old Eliyahu David Kay, a recent immigrant from South Africa.
Similarly, Shai Glick, CEO of Jewish rights group Betsalmo, filed a police complaint against Shadmi, saying his "remarks are clear incitement to violence and danger to human life. There is no doubt that as long as there are weapons in Shadmi and his friends' hands, there may be harm caused to the lives of the area's Jewish and Arab residents. We have all learned that words can kill.
"The true face of the extreme Left has been revealed. They speak of brotherhood, coexistence, and peace, but act with hatred. Had Shadmi been a rightist, he would have already been arrested."
Organizers of the "Stop Settler Violence" conference said: "We were pleased to see all Knesset members, ministers, organizations, and activists who participated in the conference against the raging settler violence as law enforcement turns a blind eye.
"The remarks made at the end of the conference by Haim Shadmi do not represent our stance in supporting a non-violent struggle and calling for ending the occupation peacefully.
"If only those who rushed to oppose his words had done the same when settlers used severe violent means against Palestinians and Israelis in recent weeks."
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