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Rising tensions between Jews and Arabs has reached Knesset as Arab MKs Muhmad Baraka (Hadash) and Jamal Zahalka (Balad) left the Knesset plenum on Monday 2 Kislev after calling their Jewish colleagues �fascists� and yelling �go choke�.

It began with a heated argument between Baraka and MK (Yisrael Beitenu) David Rotem during which the former told the latter �go choke�. Baraka then turned to Deputy Speaker (Likud) Moshe Feiglin who was chairing the plenum session shouting �go choke too�. Feiglin ordered Knesset ushers to remove Baraka from the podium. Opposition MKs were angered by Feiglin�s decision and expressed their disapproval of the move to oust Baraka.

�What right do you have to oust him� shouted Labor MK Shelly Yacimovich. �When [MK/Likud] Miri Regev speaks from the podium in Arabic and calls MK Zoabi �a traitor� that is ok� added Meretz MK Ilan Gilon. Feiglin tried explaining that when an MK shouts at another �go choke� s/he cannot partake in the plenum session.

Zahalka, who was at the podium, did not just leave but got into a verbal confrontation with Feiglin, calling him �a fascist� and �a racist�. Feiglin instructed ushers to escort Mr. Zahalka out of the plenum session.

Minister (Likud) Dr. Yuval Steinitz added that after Zahalka was removed from the podium he called Feiglin a �neo-Nazi�. The Arab MK denied saying it.

Opposition leader Yitzchak Herzog from the podium expressed criticism against Feiglin�s stifling of freedom of speech. The mayhem continued for some time.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)