Israeli Minister Attacks Palestinians in Knesset with Racist Remarks

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu sparked outrage after renewing his racist and offensive remarks against Palestinian citizens in the occupied territories of 1948. During an official session in the Israeli Knesset, the minister, a member of the far-right 'Jewish Power' party, deliberately mocked Arab Knesset member Waleed Al-Hawashla, representative of the United Arab List, in a scene reflecting the growing extremist rhetoric within the Israeli government.

Eliyahu directly addressed MP Al-Hawashla with what were described as insulting remarks, claiming that if the State of Israel had not been established, Palestinians would still be living a primitive life and riding camels. These statements come in the context of a series of hostile stances adopted by the extremist minister towards the Palestinian presence, and it is not the first time he has stirred controversy with his incitement against Arabs.

The Israeli minister's claims ignore documented historical facts about Palestine before the 1948 Nakba, when the country enjoyed a developed urban society and a prosperous economy. Cities such as Jaffa, Haifa, and Acre were major cultural and economic centers, home to modern schools, daily newspapers, theaters, and cinemas, in addition to a banking sector and commercial companies that connected Palestine to the outside world.

Furthermore, the Palestinian economy at that time relied on advanced agriculture, especially in the citrus sector, which was exported to various continents, alongside active international trade through Palestinian ports. Palestinians enjoyed high educational and cultural levels compared to their regional surroundings, which refutes the Zionist narrative that attempts to portray the country as barren land before the occupation.

Currently, Palestinians within Israel constitute about 21 percent of the total population, and despite systematic discriminatory policies practiced against them, they have achieved remarkable successes in scientific, medical, and professional fields. International reports from organizations such as 'Amnesty International' and 'Human Rights Watch' confirm that this segment of the population faces a system of apartheid and continuous oppression in various aspects of life.

Minister Eliyahu is known for his radical positions, having previously openly called for striking the Gaza Strip with a nuclear bomb following the events of October 7, 2023. These statements reflect the mindset that governs some ministerial portfolios in the current government, which adopts policies of genocide and forced displacement against the Palestinian people wherever they are.

These developments come at a time when the occupation authorities continue their widespread aggression on the Gaza Strip, which has caused massive destruction affecting about 90 percent of the civilian infrastructure. Medical sources reported that the number of casualties exceeded 172,000, including martyrs and injured, amidst ongoing military operations targeting civilians and vital facilities despite international warnings and demands to stop the war of extermination.

If the State of Israel had not been established, Waleed and his friends would still be riding camels.