Knesset member Naama Lazimi (Avoda): Chaim Goldbergl/Flash90.
The incident with the T-shirt on Rabin’s Memorial Day
Knesset member Naama Lazimi (Avoda) was removed from the plenary session today, on the day of commemoration of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The reason was a T-shirt with the inscription “Rabin was right”, which caused a dispute among parliamentarians. This is reported by TimeUkraineIsrael with reference to Israelinfo.
Dispute over the admissibility of an inscription on a T-shirt
The incident occurred when Lazimi appeared in the Knesset hall wearing a black T-shirt with this phrase on it. The Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Erez Malul, reprimanded the MP, noting that such a message on clothing is unacceptable. He demanded that she change her T-shirt or leave the plenary session. This decision was made on the recommendation of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
Lazimi disagreed with the demand
Lazimi disagreed with the demand, a heated exchange ensued, and she was eventually escorted out of the room. In her response, she stated: “I have come in this T-shirt in the past and I will come in the future. We will continue to say it, especially these days: The rabbi was right. There is no place for Kahanism in the State of Israel, and certainly not in the Knesset.”
Sharp criticism from Avoda MPs
Lazimi’s colleague in the Avoda party, MK Gilad Kariv, sharply criticised the suspension. He called the decision unfair, stating that the Knesset is not the private property of the Speaker of the Ohana. “On Rabin’s Memorial Day, the Speaker of the Knesset, without being at the meeting, called from his office and demanded that the MP be removed from the hall just because of a T-shirt with the words ‘The Rabin was right’. If this is the case, will we also expel MPs who wear pins with a map of Israel?” said Kariv, adding that he will file an ethics complaint against Amir Ohana for violating Rabin’s memory and disrespecting the Knesset.
Legal justification for the suspension
According to the Knesset’s legal advice, Knesset rules prohibit MPs from appearing at plenary sessions wearing T-shirts or other items expressing their personal political position.
Lazima’s answer: “It symbolises what is happening to society.”
In response to her suspension, Lazimi stated: “I was kicked out of the plenum for no reason on Rabin’s memorial day, while Ben-Gvir, the criminal minister who tore the emblem off Rabin’s car and threatened him, sits quietly. This symbolises what is happening to our society and the Knesset.”
This incident was another manifestation of disagreements among Israeli politicians over the issue of the memory of Yitzhak Rabin and the political culture in the country, where even minor protests can lead to high-profile conflicts.
