Lawmakers held signs saying « Jerusalem Is The Capital of Palestine, » a response to Trump declaring that US would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Israeli
Arab members are escorted by security out as U. S. Vice President
Mike Pence speaks in Israel’s parliament in Jerusalem, Monday,
Jan. 22,2018. AP Photo/Ariel Schalit,
Pool
Israeli-Arab members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, were
forcibly removed during
Vice President Mike Pence’s speech on Monday after protesting
new US policies on Jerusalem.
The lawmakers brandished signs saying « Jerusalem Is The Capital
of Palestine, » apparently a response to President Donald Trump
announcing that the US would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s
capital. The signs featured a picture of the Dome of the Rock, a
Muslim holy site and one of the most recognizable buildings in
Jerusalem.
During his December speech, Trump also said the US would move its
embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, a decision that
Pence confirmed in his speech to the Knesset.
Trump and Pence both said that the US would not make any
decisions on the borders of an East and West Jerusalem, or a
final status agreement of the city, which has long been
considered to be determined by negotiations.
Knesset member Ayman Odeh
tweeted on Monday that he was proud to lead a « strong,
legitimate protest, against the Trump-Netanyahu regime’s
exaltation of racism and hatred, who speak of peace solely as lip
service. »
Another Knesset
member reportedly yelled, « You are free to give up Indiana
but not Jerusalem! » — referring to Pence’s home state.
Video of the protest shows that the Knesset members were removed
almost immediately after Pence began speaking:
NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell compared
the event to « Capitol Police dragging members of the
congressional black caucus off the House floor. »
Pence confirmed several elements of US-Israel policy in his
speech, which received a mixed response from the Israelis.
Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not
applaud when Pence said the US would support a two-state solution
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict « if both sides agree. »
Pence addressed another key part of Trump’s December speech in
his Knesset speech, saying the US would
move its embassy to Jerusalem by next year. Previously, the
process was expected to take several years.
