MK El-Sana: Settlers are cancerous tumor
Tumult erupts in Knesset's Constitution Committee after MK El-Sana says there's no connection between human rights, settlers who persecute, abuse out of principal. Committee chairman MK Rotem responds, 'If settlers are cancerous tumor I hope it grows until Palestinian state ceases to exist'
During a special debate Monday in the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee regarding civil rights violations and the West Bank settlement construction freeze Knesset Member Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) said that the "settlers are a cancerous tumor."
MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) responded with "Stop the incitement! You are a cancerous tumor."
According to El-Sana "There is no connection between civil rights and settlers in the Palestinian territory whose point of view is to persecute and abuse. These vermin must not be permitted. According to international law, settlers are prohibited from being there. They are a cancerous tumor."
Committee chairman MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu) joined the boisterous debate and said, "If the settlers are a malignant tumor in the Palestinian state then I hope this tumor grows until the Palestinian state ceases to exist."
The vehement exchange of words was the result of an altercation that commenced at the beginning of the debate. El-Sana noted, "We are here supposedly as the Yesha Council instead of the Knesset.
"The settlers don't give a damn about the government and the High Court of Justice's decisions. They come to the Knesset to enforce terror."
MK Rotem responded, "They learned it from you."
The tumult erupted after Rotem inquired after Central Command Chief Major-General Avi Mizrahi's considerations for signing the freeze orders. "Did you receive an order to freeze the construction of Jews only?" he asked.
Rotem claimed that the order violates human rights, while El-Sana asserted that Major-General Mizrahi was not adhering to international law.
The committee members were also irritated by the absence of Defense Minister Ehud Barak who sent in his place Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, Mizrahi and his officers.
MK Rotem claimed that the meeting was coordinated in advance with Barak and regretted his absence.
