Minister Danny Naveh said from the Knesset podium today: \"Arafat is not a Christian saint but rather a Muslim terrorist.\" Naveh was delivering the government response to the Knesset inquiry into why PLO Chief Yasser Arafat was not allowed to visit Bethlehem for Christmas. Arab Knesset members heckled Naveh who pressed on to recount instances of Muslim Arabs who defiled young Christian Arab girls while the PLO police did nothing to stop or prevent the crimes. At this point, the Knesset chamber descended into chaos. Knesset members almost came to blows. The Knesset guard rushed in but, without success, attempted to calm the Arab Knesset members. In the end, five Arab parliamentarians were escorted out, and the session was temporarily suspended. When the members re-assembled, Naveh documented his charges and asked, \"How can Arafat be portrayed in the world as a Christian saint, when such atrocities occur under his jurisdiction?\"
Even when the agenda moved onto other items, tension hung in the air. When Arab MK Taleb A-Sana rose to the podium to address a different topic, he began a tirade against Naveh which included a long list of insults. When he refused to retract his remarks, the chairman of the session called on security guards to remove A-Sana from the podium.
Some Labor and Meretz Knesset members submitted a complaint to the Knesset Ethics committee against Minister Naveh\'s remarks.
Even when the agenda moved onto other items, tension hung in the air. When Arab MK Taleb A-Sana rose to the podium to address a different topic, he began a tirade against Naveh which included a long list of insults. When he refused to retract his remarks, the chairman of the session called on security guards to remove A-Sana from the podium.
Some Labor and Meretz Knesset members submitted a complaint to the Knesset Ethics committee against Minister Naveh\'s remarks.