Knesset goes wild over MK Zoabi, after relating her experience as a passenger on the Mavi Marmara.

[Emit]

Arab and Jewish MKs fight in the aisle until ushers separate them.

The Knesset witnessed a rare eruption of violence on Wednesday when MK Haneen Zoabi (Balad) was cursed and shoved after relating her experience as a passenger on the Mavi Marmara.

Knesset members from coalition and opposition parties alike sought to shout down the freshman MK, but the furor reached a climax when Anastasia Michaeli (Israel Beiteinu) charged the podium in an attempt to physically block Zoabi from continuing her speech.

~snip~

Zoabi was released from police custody early Tuesday morning.

At the podium, Zoabi said she was “astonished by the incitement” and “despised the words” she had heard during the Knesset debate on the Monday morning incident.

She said that she had agreed to participate in the flotilla, as it was a “political, human and moral imperative to oppose the imprisonment of 1.5 million people.”

She described the blockade of Gaza as an “illegal, inhuman, illegitimate siege opposed by every politician who has a moral position... only the immoral support the blockade.”

She blasted the MKs attacking her, saying, “Who is the criminal? Did I murder anyone?”

At that point, one MK shouted, “Check if she has a knife!” resulting in an uproar.

~snip~

When Zoabi again took the podium, MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) yelled to Rivlin to “be careful, because there is a terrorist standing next to you.”

~snip~

Also on Wednesday, MK Danny Danon said the Ministerial Committee for Legislation had agreed to debate a bill on Sunday that he had recently drafted, to allow for removing an acting MK from his position if he or she were found to have committed incitement against the State of Israel.

~snip~

(Deputy Knesset Speaker Carmel) Shama, shortly before the hearing, also announced that he had submitted a request to the Central Elections Committee to block Zoabi from being able to run in any future Knesset election.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177321

[Better Believe It]

1. So this is the "democratic" nation of Israel? Free speech for only right-wing extremists

These folks are worse than the tea baggers here and remind me more of the McCarthyite witch-hunter from the 50's.

[JanMichael]

2. Damn. I'm beginning to think that Israel is like the old South Africa.

They had some 60% Afrikaners and 40% English and the English would vote to end systemic racism almost every year, the Afrikaners would object, and the anti-racists would lose 60-40.

60-40. When the 60 is asshole the 40 is fucked.

[izzybeans]

3. Orwell described Israel in 1984.

[TexasObserver]

4. recommend

[provis99]

5. what a bunch of racist bigots.

Their on the same moral level as George Wallace and Bull Connor.

[stranger81]

10. +1 [n/t]

[Canuckistanian]

6. These are the kind of extremists we're dealing with here

And they've taken over the government AND the Knesset.

[WeDidIt]

7. We should be isolating Israel just like we isolate Iran

I see little difference between the two nations. Both are controlled by religiously fanatical racist bigots.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. Fuck that shit.

Israeli "democracy" sure is looking like a damn joke.

They are quickly becoming what they abhored.

[gratuitous]

9. Is this what Israel stands for now?

Or will the voters do something about this ugliness? Because if they don't, there is little else the rest of the world can do but conclude that this represents the true face of Israel, and the United States really needs to count well the cost of its unconditional endorsement of Israel and its policies. Because this is surely not in accordance with the ideals the U.S. claims to espouse.

[Ignis]

11. "You're either with us or against us." -- George W. Bush

"O con noi o contro di noi" -- Benito Mussolini

Same shit, different day. :shrug:

[GodlessBiker]

12. Zoabi was released from police custody? Not the pig who rushed her at the podium?

[Codeine]

14. Released from custody after being arrested on the boat.

she was released on Tuesday, the speech was on Wednesday.

[duhneece]

13. It's like watching a good, dear friend who has been horribly abused

Become an abuser themselves. So sad, so angry...it's all I can do not to get absolutely hopeless about Israel's right wing that is supported by our right wing.

[Heywood J]

15. It sounds like a few Knesset members should be cooling their heels

in a jail cell, pending charges of assault. I understand the need for immunity from slander/libel laws inside a legislative chamber, but physical acts like assault should never be immunized.

[AzDar]

16. K & R

[bobthedrummer]

17. .