Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu put Arab Knesset Member Jamal Zahalka in his place when he went far beyond the “red line” in a Knesset debate and declared in a rowdy debate, “We were here before you, and we’ll be here after you. Stop dreaming.”
The debate concerned the bill that was voted into law and requires a referendum before Israel can surrender any sovereign territory, which includes the Golan Heights and parts of Jerusalem that were occupied by Jordan between 1948 and 1967.
The Prime Minister, who a long time ago excelled in the United Nations as Israeli’s Ambassador, decided to march up to the podium and in several seconds succinctly rebuffed Zahalka.
“The first part [of your statement] is not true – and the second part will never happen,” said Prime Minister, who then went back to his seat to the sound of thunderous applause and a useless reprimand by the Knesset Speaker that it is forbidden to applaud in the Knesset.