Arab Israeli lawmaker Ahmad Tibi clashed with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday during a Knesset debate on a bill that would allow the government to strip family members of convicted terrorists of their citizenship and expel them from the country.
“Your family should be deported. You are a convicted terrorist. Today, a man was murdered in [the Arab town of] Kafr Qara, and you are sitting here—a failed minister and a criminal,” Tibi, a longtime legislator for the predominantly Arab Hadash-Ta’al Party, shouted at Ben-Gvir.
During the deliberations in the House Committee session, Ben-Gvir asked Tibi, “Are you here as a representative of the families of the terrorists?”
The Deportation of Families of Terrorists Bill (2023), which is being discussed ahead of its second and third (and final) readings in the Knesset plenum, would give the interior minister the power to—following a hearing—order the deportation of a family member of a terrorist who knew of his relative’s plans and expressed support for his actions.
Ben-Gvir told fellow lawmakers, “This is a historic proposal. All those ‘big heroes’ who murdered and raped look like cowards and whiners in prison. This law is a tool of the first order and, after it will be adopted, every terrorist will think a thousand times—because his parents and brothers may pay the price,” according to a readout.
In 2023, Ben-Gvir asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to charge Tibi with incitement over an anti-Israel speech he gave in Jenin.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Arab American University in the Samaria terrorist hub, Tibi said, “Our sons are here and all the Palestinians, when they excel, resist and fight each in their own way.
“They will lead this nation to freedom. I am here to celebrate this joy with you and to tell the doctors and dentists that this is actually your specialty: Together, let’s uproot the occupation from the roots, from the roots. Because this occupation needs to end,” the lawmaker declared.
Tibi launched Ta’al in 1995 while serving as an adviser to Palestine Liberation Organization terrorist Yasser Arafat. The following year, Tibi said, “All my moves are made according to his instructions. I believe he has confidence in me, and I hope I justify the confidence he puts in me.”
The Arab legislator has repeatedly clashed with Ben-Gvir since the latter took office in late 2022. Last month, attorneys for the Ta’al head accused the national security minister of “racist policies” due to his opposition to Tibi meeting with jailed Palestinian terrorist leader Marwan Barghouti.