Clashes Leading to Fight in Knesset Podium

On Wednesday, Israeli Arab MK Hanin Zoabi and MK Miri Regev of the Likkud party indulged in a verbal clash during a Knesset plenum resulting in Regev telling Zoabi in Arabic “Go to Gaza, you traitor.” Zoabi boarded a ship that was part of the flotilla carrying humanitarian goods as well as lethal weapons before the bloody raid broke out on Monday.

In a discussion of Israel’s raid on a Turkish-flagged ship attempting to board the borders of Gaza, Zoabi accused the Israeli government of participating in what she called a “pirate military operation.” She continued to press Israeli ministers on why soldiers were ordered to confiscate media cameras and restrict coverage on the nine people killed on the ship.

Zoabi also urged the government to open a national panel of inquiry regarding the flotilla crisis and criticized the government for being opposed to international external probes that have been deemed impartial.

As Regev and Zoabi quarrelled in a heated debate, Regev accused Zoabi of being "responsible for a double crime: Joining terrorists, and a moral crime against the state of Israel", according to Ha’aretz reports.

Regev continued by mentioning other times when tensions rose between the two MKs, saying: "She sat here over a year ago and pledged allegiance to the state of Israel and its laws." She continued by saying: "I have no intention of stifling free speech, but in the case of MK Zoabi - it is not freedom of speech. The Gaza flotilla was a terrorist flotilla and MK Zoabi needs to be punished. We don't need Trojan horses in the Knesset."

Other MKs intervened in the debate including MK Yohanan Plesner who according to Ynet said “Ijust wish you would go to Gaza for at least a week and then we'll see how you talk about women's rights and civil rights. Just one week, and we'll see what happens. One week in Gaza as a 38-year old single woman and we'll see how they treat you! You are the last person capable of preaching morals to us," he cried out.

The debate escalated leading to MK Anastassia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu) running to the podium attempting to keep Zoabi from speaking, and a fight broke out at the podium between the two women. Other MKs tried to separate the two women, and eventually Michaeli was removed from the hall

MK Nachman Shai (Kadima) addressed Zoabi in disappointment of the Arab’s participation in what Knesset members have called a sail of terror. He intervened with, "I respect democracy, but an MK cannot participate in such a journey, which is against the law and deifies the country that is mine just as much as it is yours.”

He continued by saying, "I respect your opinions, but it was wrong of you to stand on that ship's deck. It's unacceptable," he added.