MK Avi Dichter (Likud) and MK Zouheir Bahloul (Zionist Union) shared a stage in Acre to discuss the ongoing issue of the IDF soldier who shot a neutralized terrorist.
During their talk, Dichter criticized Bahloul for declaring that the would-be stabber was not a terrorist.
"Over the past few months I have become concerned with the statements by Arab MKs, and I ask myself what is going on here?" Dichter said. "I would not dare make these comments in the Egyptian or Jordanian parliaments, and also not in Ramallah. Whoever goes out to murder a soldier, police officer or civilian is a terrorist."
MK Bahloul responded, "I want to remind you that, before 1948, the British Mandate was here. The Etzel (also known as the Irgun), the Lehi, the Hagana and all the Jewish organizations took to the streets against the Mandate in order to bring about your state. Are the Palestinians not allowed to do so?"
Bahloul further added that he makes a distinction between soldiers and civilians: "I have said that anyone who attacks innocents, who enters a house where children and women are sleeping, and cut short their lives can be described in any terms, including terrorist. But soldiers? They are the symbol of the occupation. What should Palestinians do after suffering under the occupation for 49 years, after losing their lives, after searching for their freedom and independence and not receiving anything? They see the soldiers are symbols of the occupation."
Dichter said that he was surprised to hear a fellow Knesset member describe Israel as "your country." Bahloul again shot back: "This is the Jews' country and not the Arabs' country."