Israeli Opposition Politicians Disrupt Trump’s Knesset Speech with Pro-Palestine Signs
US President Donald Trump faced a dramatic moment during his speech in the Israeli Knesset on Monday when two opposition lawmakers, Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif, were forcibly removed from the chamber for displaying pro-Palestine signs. Odeh and Cassif, both members of the Arab-led Hadash-Ta’al coalition, held up signs reading ‘Recognize Palestine,’ an act that immediately drew sharp criticism from other legislators. Trump paused and stood silently as the MPs were swiftly escorted out, later quipping that the removal was ‘very efficient,’ before continuing his speech.
The lawmakers later defended their actions on social media. Cassif posted on X, writing that Trump is ‘part of the problem, not a solution,’ and that ‘true peace requires an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.’ Odeh also expressed his stance, stating that he was ‘kicked out of the Knesset just for raising the simplest demand, one that the whole international community agrees on: Recognize the State of Palestine.’ Their actions underscored growing tensions between Israel’s Arab population and its government, particularly regarding the recognition of Palestine and the path to peace.
This incident took place during Trump’s visit to Israel to oversee the implementation of an agreement he helped mediate, under which Hamas freed the remaining 20 living hostages in exchange for the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump as the ‘greatest friend’ Israel has ever had, reflecting the high stakes of the agreement. The prisoner swap, part of a broader ceasefire deal, was intended to de-escalate the conflict, though its long-term impact remains uncertain.
Later that day, Trump signed the Gaza ceasefire deal with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in Sharm el-Sheikh, on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. This development marked a significant step in the ongoing conflict, though it also raised questions about the potential for further violence, especially with the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and the unresolved political tensions within Israel itself. The incident at the Knesset highlights the complex and often volatile dynamics at play in the region, as political figures, both Israeli and international, navigate the delicate balance between security, recognition, and peace.