President Donald Trump’s speech to Israel’s Knesset was briefly stopped on Friday when two Arab Israeli lawmakers were thrown out of the chamber after protesting during his remarks. The incident happened as Trump was celebrating an important moment in Israeli-Palestinian relations, marking the return of hostages held by Hamas.
The Jerusalem Post identified the protesters as Ayman Odeh, an Arab Israeli member of the Hadash alliance, and Ofer Cassif, a far-left politician also from the Hadash coalition. Both lawmakers were removed from the room after shouting slogans and holding up signs during the president’s speech.
As per The Hill, Odeh held up a sign that said “Recognize Palestine” before being thrown out of the room. He later explained his actions on social media, calling the recognition of a Palestinian state “the simplest demand, a demand that the entire international community agrees on.” He added that “there are two peoples here, and neither is going anywhere.”
What Was Happening During The Protest
The protest happened during a very sensitive time in Israeli politics. Trump’s speech came as Israel welcomed back the last living hostages held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023, attack. This was a major step in the first part of a deal to end the fighting in Gaza.
Cassif posted on social media that their protest was “to demand justice,” accusing the Israeli government of occupation and apartheid against Palestinians. His post told people to “refuse to be occupiers” and “resist the government of bloodshed.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected recognizing a Palestinian state, even though he signed onto Trump’s 20-point peace plan that is supposed to lead to a sovereign Palestine. The tension comes as leaked reports show Arab states quietly expanded military ties with Israel during the Gaza war, even while publicly speaking out against Israeli actions.
The incident shows the deep splits within Israeli society over the Palestinian question. A survey done by the Pew Research Center earlier this year found that only 21 percent of Israelis believe that Israelis and Palestinians can live together peacefully. Odeh and Cassif are members of an Arab-Jewish political party holding five seats in Israel’s opposition, representing a minority voice in the Knesset.
After being removed, Cassif criticized how the chamber reacted, posting a video of lawmakers cheering his removal. He wrote that it showed “the U.S. President and the entire world that there is no room to express a different opinion in Israel.”
Published: Oct 13, 2025 01:52 pm