Far-right Israeli politician compares Palestinian MKs to 'sheep'

An Israeli parliamentarian filmed himself in the Knesset on Monday making "racist" remarks against opposition Palestinian lawmakers from the Hadash-Ta'al coalition, likening them to farm animals.

In the video, which was streamed live on social media, far-right Member of the Knesset (MK) Almog Cohen made animal sounds at his opposition and Palestinian counterparts, before telling those around him "when you talk to them in their language they understand you", and "you need to talk to him like a sheep".

Cohen went on to insult the Palestinian-Israeli Ta'al party leader Ahmad Tibi, a trained gynecologist, saying: "That's a doctor. I wouldn't let him treat my dog."

כאן הוא מצלם את אחמד טיבי ואומר ״רופא, בכלב שלי לא הייתי נותן לו לטפל״ ועובר לח״כ עופר כסיף וצועק ״עופר סגור ת׳תריס, שקט. אוסקוט! (משמיע קולות) אתה רואה, אתה מדבר אליהם בשפה שלהם הם מבינים אותך, כמו כבש צריך לדבר איתו. הוא לא מבין עברית״ pic.twitter.com/wp4XLhyc59

— Lior Kenan - ליאור קינן (@LiorKenan) February 21, 2023

Cohen refused to apologise for his comments and instead doubled down, calling the Palestinian lawmakers "terror supporters", according to the Walla news site.

He went even further in an interview with Channel 12 news, saying: "They're traitors. It might have been inappropriate because they’re not worthy of being sheep, they’re not humans. I will make their lives miserable."

Cohen repeatedly expressed his support for Israeli forces' operations in the occupied West Bank, where they had intentionally killed dozens of Palestinians, including civilians and children. 

His party is led by the hardline minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has previously dehumanised Palestinians and been convicted of incitement to racism.

Last month, Ben Gvir hailed an Israeli soldier who shot dead an unarmed Palestinian as a "hero" and has previously called for the annexation of settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Otzma Yehudit is part of a governing coalition widely regarded as the most right-wing in Israeli history, and its rise to power has raised fears that violence against Palestinians could reach even higher levels over the next few years.