A state of chaos and sharp verbal altercations prevailed on Wednesday during the first sessions of the organizing committee in the Israeli Knesset, following confrontations between members of the Likud party led by caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the change camp led by the appointee to form the new government, Gadi Eisenkot.
Hebrew media reported that the chaos erupted during the committee's first meeting, as soon as members were allowed to speak, amid accusations and harsh phrases exchanged between the lawmakers.
The first to speak was the new Knesset member from the Likud party, Erzi Tamor, who got into a debate with several members of the change camp. He was described by opposition members as a "weapons thief," referring to his conviction for stealing military equipment during his service in the Israeli army and a sentencing of 45 days in prison, according to the newspaper.
During the session, Tamor stated that his party extends a hand for unity but accused members of the change camp of allying with what he termed “supporters of terrorism,” referencing the Arab parties in the Knesset.
He was interrupted by member Naama Lazimi from the "Democrats" party, who said that Likud's call for unity contradicts their description of others as saboteurs, to which Tamor responded by demanding she listen and not interrupt him.
Later, tensions escalated again when Tamor referred to member Merav Ben Ari from the "There is a Future" party as a "chicken," while videos circulating showed him addressing her by saying, "You are screaming like a chicken."
This description angered several female lawmakers, who accused him of being anti-women. Lazimi condemned the phrase, stating that the days of hatred towards women are over, and they will not tolerate any diminishment of a woman's stature or attempts to silence her, questioning the sincerity of the calls for unity in light of such behavior.
In another incident, the head of the organizing committee, Roy Falkman, from the "Yeshar" party, ordered the expulsion of member Tali Gotliv from the Jewish Power party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, due to her repeated interruptions of Knesset members' comments.
Videos showed Gotliv continuing to yell and protest as she was removed from the hall, as she leaned towards the ear of Arab Knesset member Walid Al-Hawashla, repeatedly uttering the phrase "supporter of terrorism," while another Arab member was heard saying to her, "Out, you loud one, out."