Opinion
How can Tibi accuse IDF soldiers and still sit in the Knesset?
In an interview, Tibi accuses soldiers and officers of firing at civilians seeking food. This allegation was not verified for this article. In our view, spreading such accusations abroad harms Israel's reputation and warrants public scrutiny and demands for sources from a Knesset member. The clip's recording date was not verified.
· Image: Frame from an interview excerpt supplied to the newsroom; original broadcast branding retained, recording date unverified
Ahmad Tibi makes serious allegations against soldiers and officers in an interview. In our view, broadcasting them worldwide calls for sharp public scrutiny of the responsibility of someone serving in Israel's Knesset.
In the supplied excerpt, bearing Al Arabiya broadcast branding, Tibi discusses footage and soldiers who served in Gaza. According to the accompanying Hebrew subtitles, he claims: "They themselves say the orders were to shoot at the hungry civilians who came to receive food packages. And fire was indeed opened." This is his allegation. The clip does not include the original testimony on which he bases it, and that testimony was not verified for this article.
This column criticizes the decision to disseminate a sweeping, serious accusation against IDF soldiers internationally. In our view, this portrayal of those serving in Gaza reflects a position hostile to Israel and damages its reputation abroad. No independent investigation establishing that such an order was given or proving a particular soldier's responsibility is presented here.
The public question is how a representative in Israel's legislature fulfills his responsibility when describing the country's soldiers this way to foreign audiences. The public and his political partners should demand explanations, sources and a distinction between suspicion, testimony and established findings. This is political and ethical criticism of his remarks, not a legal determination of his eligibility to serve in the Knesset.
This is a user-supplied interview excerpt, not the complete interview. The quotations are based on the file's Hebrew subtitles; the recording date and translator's identity were not verified. Tibi is a veteran Knesset member. This is not a report of his first or new entry into parliament.
