Yoav Kish, a lawmaker of Israel’s ruling Likud National Liberal Party led by Benjamin Netanyahu, told an Arab member of Knesset (Israel’s parliament) to say “Israel akbar” (Israel is great) instead of “Allahu akbar” (God is great) during prayers.
Local press reported that Kish made the scandalous statement last Wednesday during a Knesset session discussing a draft bill that would enable Palestinians linked to groups labeled by the Israeli Interior Ministry as “terror groups” to be expelled from Jerusalem. The bill was approved.
“You are disgusting, damn you!” responded Ahmad Tibi, an Arab-Muslim Israeli politician who is the leader of the Arab movement for the Change party. Following this, his party members recited the Islamic takbir (God is great) in protest to Kish’s words.
“Surely, they will lose and be disappointed. Their eyes, foresight and hearts are sealed for reciting words filled with such blasphemy,” said Palestinian mufti Mohammed Amin al-Husseini.
“Certainly, all cruel and noxious people have been destroyed. Surely, Allah is greater than all cruel rulers,” he added.
