Dim Amor

In the midst of Holocaust Remembrance Day, as the people of Israel bow their heads in memory of the six million Jews who were murdered, Member of Knesset Ahmad Tibi chose to publish inflammatory posts on the social network X, raising serious questions about the boundaries of political discourse in the country.

Tibi published a harsh post in which he called Minister Itamar Ben Gvir a "convicted terrorist" and claimed that "the government is fully Kahanist". In the blunt post, he wrote: "Especially today it must be said: Bezalel Smotrich is the most influential minister and his outlook is dominant in the Israeli government of 2025, the hilltop youth are the group most supported by the government, Religious Zionism is the embodiment of contemporary Zionism today, Ben Gvir, the convicted terrorist, is a cabinet member, and the government is fully Kahanist".

The choice of timing, specifically on Holocaust Remembrance Day, is perceived as a deliberate and offensive provocation. This behavior raises questions about Tibi's respect for state institutions and the ethical codes expected from elected officials.

Not content with that, Tibi added fuel to the fire when he published a video that allegedly shows two girls in the Gaza Strip eating bread. In the accompanying post, he wrote: "With a slice of bread made from contaminated flour and a little red pepper, Aya and her sister are trying to ease the hunger of another day in Gaza — under a suffocating siege and ban on aid, when food is scarce and survival becomes more difficult. Aya and her sister and a moldy slice of bread. With a smile".

However, the video raises many questions. There are no details regarding the identity of the photographer, the location of the filming, or its circumstances, which strengthens doubts about its authenticity. It may be staged content aimed at provoking an emotional response and creating incitement. Moreover, it is known that about 90% of Gaza residents express hostile attitudes toward Israel, a fact that requires careful consideration of content coming from the area.

It is important to note that eating bread or pita is normative behavior for children everywhere, including in Israel. The presentation of this everyday action as evidence of extreme distress raises questions about the true motives behind the publication.

While Tibi tries to evoke compassion toward these girls, he ignores the complex reality in the Gaza Strip and the fact that many Israeli children were brutally murdered on October 7 and will not have any future. The contrast between the portrayal of girls eating bread and the fate of Israeli children who were murdered is particularly jarring.

Tibi's conduct raises weighty questions about the role of Knesset members and the responsibility placed upon them. Is there a limit to incitement and provocation? Are the Knesset's ethics rules applied equally? And is the choice of timing – Holocaust Remembrance Day – random or intended to amplify the offense?

While freedom of expression is a fundamental value in Israeli democracy, Tibi's inciting and outrageous statements pose a significant challenge to democratic tolerance. Especially when they come from an elected official, who is supposed to serve as an example of mutual respect and respectful discourse.

Tibi's deliberate provocation on Holocaust Remembrance Day highlights the need for more responsible public discourse, especially in the current time of tension and crisis. Perhaps the time has come to re-examine the ethics rules applied to Knesset members and ensure they are enforced effectively, to prevent the misuse of the public platform for incitement and division.

P.S. The "Makav" editorial team wishes the girls appearing in the video published by MK Tibi, eating bread in the Gaza Strip, a safe future and a successful career in the field of acting, hoping for better days in our region.

Photo from the official Facebook page of MK Ahmad Tibi, in accordance with Section 27a of the Copyright Law