Kidnapped families block Ayalon, February 23, 2024/Danor Aharon
The chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, MK Yuli Edelstein, refused to allow Danny Algrant, the brother of Itzik who was captured by Hamas in Gaza, to speak in the committee he chairs after the latter arrived with a yellow patch on his shirt.
"In my committee, they will not talk to a yellow patch," said Edelstein.
Elgrant replied: "I feel holocaust and you won't tell me what to wear. I'll sit here."
Edelstein tried to defend himself after Lagernet raised his voice and at one point stopped the discussion and went on a break.
It should be noted that the other families of the abductees spoke at the committee without interruption.
Edelstein/Reuven Castro
Edelstein later explained in a statement to the media that "Throughout the period, I hosted every family and every representative of the families of the abducted and murdered. The committee gave a platform whenever possible. That's how it was, and that's how it will continue to be as long as even one abductee remains in the hands of the Hamas murderers."
Edelstein added: "However, as a son of Holocaust survivors, as someone who was imprisoned in a Soviet prison for being Jewish - I will have zero tolerance for the atrocities of the Holocaust. The massacre we went through was terrible and we are still dealing with its consequences today and for many years to come. Everyone murdered - in our hearts, everyone kidnapped in the front of our eyes. However, there is no place to compare the horrible murder with the Holocaust. For this reason, and with great pain, I asked that they not use a yellow patch. This is a red line that I will not cross in the committee."
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Yuli Edelstein
Gaza war
War of Iron Swords
Foreign Affairs and Security Committee