U.S. President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated address to the Israeli Parliament on Monday, October 13, 2025, was momentarily disrupted when two left-wing lawmakers were promptly escorted out after initiating a protest.
Reacting to the swift removals, Mr. Trump lightheartedly remarked, “That was very efficient.”
The President’s speech had paused just as a Knesset staff member was heard ordering the expulsion of lawmaker Ofer Cassif, following what appeared to be a planned demonstration.
During the session, which was otherwise marked by a warm reception and numerous standing ovations for Mr. Trump, Mr. Cassif brandished a sign emblazoned with the words: “Recognise Palestine!” In his subsequent post, he stated, “This is the banner I waved in front of Trump at the Knesset and was subsequently removed from the plenum.” He further elaborated on his motivation, writing, “We didn’t come to disturb, but to demand justice. Genuine peace, which will protect both peoples of this land from destruction, can only be achieved with the cessation of occupation and apartheid, and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.”
Similarly, Ayman Odeh, leader of Cassif’s Hadash alliance, was also observed displaying a sheet of paper before being removed from the chamber. Sharing his perspective on X (formerly Twitter), Odeh stated, “They kicked me out of the Knesset just for raising the simplest demand, one that the whole international community agrees on: Recognize the State of Palestine! Recognize the simple truth.” He also strongly criticized the atmosphere: “The amount of hypocrisy in the plenum is unbearable. To crown Netanyahu through flattery the likes of which has never been seen, through an orchestrated group, does not absolve him and his government of the crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, nor of the responsibility for the blood of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian victims and thousands of Israeli victims.”