by Gideon Allon, Shlomo Cesana, Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff
"Anyone who calls for murder or justifies it is not worthy of belonging to this parliament," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says of Joint Arab List MK Hanin Zoabi at opening of Knesset's winter session • He works to outlaw Islamic Movement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday
Photo credit: Dudi Vaaknin  |
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On the same day that Palestinians carried out four terrorist attacks against Israelis, leaving a teenage boy in critical condition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened the Knesset's winter session Monday with a fiery speech against ongoing incitement to violence.
"A hundred years of terrorism, a hundred years in which they have tried to destroy the institution of Zionism, and yet our enemies haven't learned: Terrorism will not defeat us, in fact just the opposite," Netanyahu said.
"'The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew,'" he said, quoting Exodus 1:12.
"We will also overcome the current wave of terrorism. We will punish every attacker, Jew and Arab alike, to the fullest extent of the law."
Netanyahu also addressed the tensions on the Temple Mount.
"They spread propaganda filled with lies about the Temple Mount to spark riots," he said. "We are committed to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount and we rigorously safeguard the holy sites of all religions."
All the Knesset members belonging to the Joint Arab List left the room at the beginning of the prime minister's speech. Netanyahu criticized members of the party for encouraging the violence and undermining the state, singling out MKs Basel Ghattas and Hanin Zoabi.
"It is unbelievable that an Israeli member of parliament calls for terror attacks against Israelis. There is nothing more justified than a criminal investigation against her," he said of Zoabi.
"Anyone who calls for murder or justifies it is not worthy of belonging to this parliament."
Zoabi later responded, saying that Netanyahu had a "distorted interpretation" of her words.
Netanyahu further called on Israel's Arab citizens to "kick out the extremists among you," and called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to condemn the recent violence.
Meretz MK Issawi Frej was told to leave the room following repeated outbursts during Netanyahu's speech.
Recently, the unrest has also exposed divisions in the Arab community itself. In an exchange broadcast on Israeli TV, Nazareth Mayor Ali Salem scolded Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh.
Salem said harsh rhetoric by Arab lawmakers had kept Jewish tourists from visiting his city, hurting residents' livelihoods.
"Ayman, go look someplace else. You've ruined the city!" he screamed as Odeh was about to be interviewed by a TV station. "There wasn't even a single Jew here today. Not even one!"
'Calming tensions'
Following Netanyahu's Knesset speech, President Reuven Rivlin and Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog also addressed the Knesset.
"We are all responsible for calming tensions and we must remember that we have security forces, police and a justice system, and only they have the right and duty to enforce the law against those who have carried out these despicable crimes," Rivlin said.
When Herzog spoke, he blamed Netanyahu and Habayit Hayehudi chairman Naftali Bennett for the growing unrest.
"The conflict that you have managed based on your views has become a knife in the back of the citizens of Israel," Herzog said. "You have failed. The wretched terrorists have risen up again on your watch. What you are suggesting is like the story of Masada: 'Shall the sword devour forever?' [Samuel 2 2:26]."
Both Bennett and Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev (Likud) heckled Herzog during the speech.
Later on Monday, the Knesset approved the first reading of a bill introduced by Netanyahu to introduce harsh minimum prison sentences for people who throw rocks, firebombs and other objects that can cause harm.
"This legislation which I initiated is one of the measures adopted by the cabinet in the framework of the fight against terrorism," the prime minister said.
Also on Monday, at a Likud faction meeting, a recording revealed Netanyahu reprimanding his party members for publicly speaking out against him, according to a Channel 2 report.
"I expect support from each and every one of you," he said angrily, adding that he did not want to hear them gossiping that he was trying to win favor from different groups.
Meanwhile, sources in the Prime Minister's Office have confirmed that Netanyahu is determined to outlaw the northern branch of the Islamic Movement. According to the officials, the plan is to go forward with proceedings that will reveal the group's systematic, long-term incitement in which leaders insist that Al-Aqsa mosque is in danger.
The Shin Bet security agency has expressed reservations about such proceedings, but in a review submitted to the government on Sunday, it reported having evidence of incitement on the part of the group's northern branch.
The evidence will be handed over to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, who will decide on the issue.
Last December, a similar effort to outlaw the Islamic Movement was made, but the Shin Bet expressed reservations then, too. For the decision to go forward, there would need to be an evidentiary basis proving that the group funds terror attacks, carries out terror attacks and incites to violence.
The Prime Minister's Office did not officially respond to reports that the Shin Bet was opposed to the move, though a political official said, "There is no official following up on the prime minister's request regarding the Islamic Movement."
Gideon Allon, Shlomo Cesana, Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=28881
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