(live here) – A political storm erupted in Haifa following a demonstration held on Saturday night, 31/05/2025, in which MK Ayman Odeh made statements that provoked angry reactions from all ends of the political spectrum. Odeh's words, which claimed that "Gaza won and will win," provoked great anger. These events raise pointed questions about the limits of freedom of expression, the loyalty of elected officials, and political implications at the local and national levels.
Demonstration in Haifa: Calls to end the occupation and Odeh's words cause a stir
Last Saturday, a demonstration was held in Haifa with the participation of about 1,000 demonstrators. The demonstration, which marched from the Shizaf Community Center, located below Stella Maris, to Allenby Street in the German Colony, carried signs calling for an end to the war and occupation. Among the signs were pictures of babies and children who were killed in Gaza, according to the demonstrators, as a result of IDF operations. There were also prominent signs in the shape of a watermelon, a symbol identified with the Palestinian struggle because of the watermelon's colors, which are the same as the colors of the Palestinian flag.
During the demonstration, MK Ayman Odeh made statements that drew angry reactions. Odeh expressed support for the Kaplan protesters but claimed that "the emphasis should be on ending the occupation and not on the legal revolution." His key words, "Gaza won and it will continue to win," caused a great uproar and led to calls for the Hadash faction to be removed from the Haifa City Council.
Angry Reactions: Calls to Remove Hadash from Haifa Council
Odeh's words provoked angry reactions from local and national politicians.
Council member from the Haifa Beitenu faction, Tatiana John, who was at a nearby demonstration with Israeli flags, said:
"The Yisrael Beiteinu party is defending the terrorist supporter Ayman Odeh, who has once again crossed every line. Odeh is more interested in what is happening outside than in Haifa. Crime in the Arab sector is on the rise, with murders and drugs, and he is busy with Gaza."
Hadash is an anti-Zionist communist party that has no place in either the Knesset or Haifa. I call on Mayor Yona Yahav and his coalition members who call themselves 'right-wing', if you have room in your hearts for Zionist values, you must immediately oust the council members from the Hadash party."
MK Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu faction, joined the calls for Hadash's dismissal, saying:
"Anyone who says 'Gaza has won and will win' while our hostages are languishing in Hamas captivity and IDF soldiers are fighting for our security - their place is not in the Israeli Knesset, but in Gaza."
The Shadow and Ben Gvir: Calls to remove Odeh's immunity
Hatzel, an artist and opinion leader on social media, published a post in which he called for the removal of MK Odeh's immunity: "Ayman Odeh in front of hundreds of traitorous Israelis," Hatzel wrote, "They applauded Odeh loudly when he called for the elimination of Israel: 'Gaza won and Gaza will win, the occupation must be destroyed, and a Palestinian state must be established.' Odeh further said that this is the embodiment of the right-wing nightmare - Jews and Arabs calling for an end to the war."
The shadow quoted from the words of the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir:
"Such statements are not freedom of expression – they are blatant incitement to support terrorism. In a normal country, a person who shouts 'Gaza will win' while terrorists are murdering Jews would be immediately questioned. The Knesset cannot serve as a haven for supporters of terrorism. I demand that Legal Advisor to the Prime Minister, Gali Bahar, remove his immunity, let the police investigate him – without fear, without discrimination and without double standards."
Public reactions: Outrage on social media
The reactions of the netizens were not slow in coming. Many called for the removal of Odeh's immunity and even suggested that he himself move to Gaza. Others claimed that there was no place to allow such a demonstration in Haifa. Some of the responses emphasized the feeling that the government is not acting decisively against elements that could harm it, despite being a right-wing government. Another claim that was repeated was that it is impossible for the Israeli Knesset to have MKs who receive salaries from the taxes of all Israeli residents, but hold positions that are contrary to Israeli interests.
Otzma Yehudit representative in Haifa and the Krayot, Dror Ohana: Keep away those who act against the state
Attorney Dror Meir Ohana, a representative of the Otzma Yehudit list in Haifa and the Kiryat Shmona, would like to see Yahav remove Zaatra from his coalition. "Even before the demonstration, I warned that it should not be allowed to take place - a call for a Palestinian state is in fact a call for the destruction of Israel. Ayman Odeh declared that he wants to see Gaza win - that is, the defeat of the IDF. He talks about "the end of the occupation," but in my opinion this is a disguised message for the destruction of the Jewish people. The High Court of Justice repeatedly gives permission to people who deny the right to our existence and prepares their entry into the Knesset. I call on Mayor Yona Yahav not to approve such events and to remove from the coalition anyone who expresses support for hostile bodies. I support him in removing Sally Abed from the coalition, and I also call on him to remove Raja Zaatra. "The time has come for Haifa to cleanse itself of those who want to destroy it, those who want to destroy its unique and beautiful fabric one hour earlier."
Shai Glick: Call for Zaatara's removal from the coalition
The CEO of Tselmo, Shai Glick, who works against demonstrations and cultural activities that are funded by the municipality and do not promote Zionist values, claimed that Zaatara has no place in Yahav's coalition after the harsh words at the demonstration. "As we warned in advance, the demonstration was not a demonstration for peace but for the enemy. The demonstration caused a discourse of hatred and incitement in Haifa and throughout the country. The reality in which a council member who was nominated to be deputy mayor of Haifa six months ago is the one responsible and behind the demonstration is delusional. I call on my friend Mayor Yona Yahav to make it clear that Raja Zaatara will never be deputy mayor of Haifa. And for the Israel Police to make it clear that incitement demonstrations will never be approved again in Haifa."
Mayor Yona Yahav: "Anyone who shouts that Gaza won is not welcome in our city"
At the end of the demonstration, Mayor Yona Yahav issued a statement in which he said: "Anyone who shouts at a demonstration in Haifa that Gaza has won and will win, or speaks about the State of Israel and the IDF in terms of war crimes and genocide, is not welcome in our city. It is better for them to go demonstrate elsewhere, and first ask themselves why the terrorist organization Hamas is withholding aid from the residents of Gaza. The demonstrators are not seeking peace and reconciliation, but incitement and inflaming passions, but that will not help them: even such an extreme and nationalist minority will not break the coexistence in Haifa. It is not for nothing that a large audience did not come to be a part of this."
Zaatara's past: objections to his appointment as deputy mayor
This is not the first time that the Hadash faction in the city council has been at the center of a public debate. In the past, when Yahav sought to appoint Zaatra as deputy mayor, we experienced much opposition. Many council members and residents opposed the move, and in the end Zaatra was not appointed as deputy. In the previous elections, Zaatra was also supposed to be the deputy to the previous mayor, Einat Kalisch Rotem, but announced at the time that he would not serve in the position.
Does freedom of expression also have limits?
The political storm following MK Ayman Odeh's remarks at a demonstration in Haifa raises pointed questions about the limits of freedom of expression, the loyalty of elected officials, and political implications at the local and national levels. The calls for the removal of the Hadash faction from the Haifa City Council, led by Raja Za'atara, indicate a sense of anger and frustration among large sections of the public. Time will tell how the events will develop and whether they will lead to changes in the structure of the municipal coalition.
Only denial of citizenship
Why don't you publish the full transcript of his words, so that the wise people of Haifa can judge them, not through Shai Glick's filter?
Thanks to you. Thanks to your courage. Thanks to your moral stance, *this demonstration constitutes a historic turning point both in numbers and in the pointed political messages.* You are the overwhelming majority in the entire world, you are on the right side of history and especially on the right side of the future. *The Israeli government calls for genocide, but when we say that these are crimes against humanity, it is outraged. Government ministers call for the destruction of Gaza. The Israeli government calls and works for transfer* and when we talk about ethnic cleansing, we are accused of being belligerent. So *we will tell them to their face that this is genocide, this is ethnic cleansing. Netanyahu is normalizing the war. We will normalize the resistance.* Many say that this is Netanyahu's war of survival, there is a lot in it, but that is not the main thing, that is not the main thing. This period is the swan song of right-wing ideology. Not only because the October 7th explosion exploded in full swing on the right. But the right understood that this was the historic moment to eliminate the Palestinian issue. Most citizens at the beginning of the war supported the war, and the right celebrated. At first, all the Western countries came to help Israel and the right celebrated. Biden supported and the right celebrated. Biden was a full partner and the right celebrated. Biden decided he didn't want to run... considered him irrelevant and moved on, and the right celebrated. *Trump came with his group of messianics and the right celebrated. He talked about transfer and legitimized transfer, so the right celebrated very, very much.*
What now? What is the situation after the killing of 53,000 Gazans. 20 children. They destroyed the hospitals, all the universities. What is the situation? *Israel has become a pariah state all over the world, including among all nations, including in the West. And what happened? Seven and a half million Palestinians and seven and a half million Jews remained between the sea and the river.* After the Six-Day War, there is a defeated people and an overwhelming majority of the people celebrated. Today, after six hundred days, six hundred days, there is a majority among both peoples saying I wish there had been no six hundred days and I wish there had been no 20 people. *This is a historic loss for the right-wing ideology that was defeated in Gaza. *Gaza won and Gaza will win. (Pause, applause).* Friends, the most important thing is that after the killing of 53,000, the blood must not be in vain. From this blood, from the unimaginable sacrifice. From the city that was destroyed more completely than anywhere else since World War II. From this place *The occupation must be eliminated and the Palestinian state must be established.* This is a right. Friends and comrades, only this way, only Arabs and Jews together. *Only this way Arabs and Jews against the war. Arabs and Jews together, for peace.
Map *We turn to the protesters in Kaplan and we tell them, we appreciate you, we appreciate your perseverance. Good luck. But we will not accept that you do not see the main point that the constitutional coup came mainly from the occupation and there is no democracy with occupation. Therefore, we call for cooperation with the protesters all over the country on the basis that the main feeder for the regime coup is the occupation and there is no democracy with occupation.* Good luck to the voice of conscience, good luck to all of you.
There are so many unnecessary car accidents and only one that is truly necessary is missing….
Gaza is dead. Return the hostages now.
Ayman Odeh is in prison.
MK Ayman Odeh. "Gaza won and will win in the future." Is that what you want? For Hamas to win and win in the future? Gaza is Hamas and Israel will not allow another massacre on October 7, 2023 and kidnapped people languishing in tunnels under torture and starvation, and some of them were kidnapped after being killed and/or murdered on that damned day, including non-Jews, that pro-Palestinian public opinion in Israel and around the world refuses to recognize the atrocities that Hamas and its aides committed against the residents of the surrounding area and the south, despite the documentation and the shock in the global media. Stop the current war, yes, return the kidnapped people and everyone, yes, stop the implementation of the legal reform, yes, join hands with the police and the heads of the Arab authorities in Israel to eradicate the murders in the Arab sector, yes, and urgently. But what you are doing as an elected official is inciting the Arab public in Israel who live well and have no other country, like us Jews, against the state and its institutions and against the IDF and its forces. The security that defends and sacrifices itself for the general public in the country, not just for the Jews. And the one who fired missiles at Arab settlements in the northern region and caused the loss of life is Hezbollah, on behalf of Iran, the axis of global evil. Ayman Odeh, we here in this country are tired of the Arab MKs who not only do nothing for their constituents all these years, but also pay lip service to the terrorist organizations and their supporters, and Gaza interests them more than what is happening in the Arab sector in the country. Do more, talk less, even so, the amount of words in our media that pours out 24/7 is overflowing, and the enemy does not need intelligence and collaborators. All the information they need about what is happening in the country and in the government is given to them on a silver platter. We are all suffering, Jews and Arabs, most of us want new leadership, but the more you and your friends expand the division and hatred between Jews and Arabs, the more we will all go into the abyss that awaits us. It may be safer in Gaza, at least they provide humanitarian aid there. Maybe you should try there, for a day, a day or two. I'm sure you'll want to return very quickly to your beautiful house in the Kabbir neighborhood and to the MK salary and the conditions that come with it. The Israeli government's favors have always winked at Arab MKs. Understandably.
First of all, the immunity should be removed and the money should be sued, of course, to be used as compensation for the families of the kidnapped and the families of the fallen. The demolition order that he had a plea bargain with, to activate and remove his family to Gaza, Syria, places he loves.
Shame on the entire people of Israel that such a "person" sits in the government, and is still in the country, enjoying only all the good things!!!
Where are the ministers, the government, who allow such statements, authorize demonstrations and marches of support, in the filth of humanity???
We must put an end to all this disgrace immediately!!!
And whoever is not happy in the country, let him leave, forever, and preferably an hour earlier. !!!
Shocking. How many more red lines will the haters of Israel cross? It is impossible that people whose sole goal is to destroy the Jews and Judaism will participate in the leadership of the city. Kudos to Attorney Dror Ohana, who was precise in the meaning and implications of the things that were said.
Thwarting is great...but the poor of your city come first
Pretend to be surprised that they and their supporters hope for or believe in Gaza's victory in the war against Israel?
Regarding the statement itself, the question arises - is it such a bad deal if every day for the next year the Air Force destroys 6-5 buildings belonging to Hamas terrorists in Gaza and at the same time every day for the next year Gaza supporters here say that Gaza is winning?
In a normal country, three mobile phones, immediate imprisonment, revocation of the title of MK and removal of immunity, and prosecution for incitement and rebellion against the state. That's it, very simple.
Closing Hadash as a party, confiscating its propaganda materials and funding and the non-profit organizations that operate within it, and continuing support for Hamas – expulsion to Gaza, where they will move there to “celebrate victory.”
How long will the left-wing media echo the imaginary coexistence that does not exist in Haifa??
There is no peace and no coexistence and there never has been.
It's all inventions because they're afraid to tell the truth.
Go to hell with all the clothes inside us.
We will soon defeat you too.
Go to Gaza and be independent and victorious there, resign immediately.
Freedom of expression friends
If there is a limit to insurance freedom, then something stinks!
Go to Gaza
Revocation of citizenship now and immediately and expulsion from the Knesset
Israel hater
He's just an idiot. Gaza didn't win, but neither did Israel. Politically, because every war is an arm of politics, Israel lost and is losing.
More importantly, what he didn't say:
He did not call for the return of the hostages.
Ayman Odeh from Hamernacha Hidash We live in a bubble Until today it was convenient for everyone to ignore but since the war we have understood that they are really Arab Israelis from Haifa Nazareth and Melod and Haifa. Every Arab city and village has not internalized that here is a Jewish protectorate. They still do not recognize that here is a New State. We have returned to the land of our ancestors. They are the Palestinians trying to erase all the antiquities of the Jews, proving that here is the state of the Jews and every corner has a trace of the Jews who lived here in the past before our expulsion from our land for over a thousand years. And after we returned since the Holocaust, we returned to our homeland and they are making an effort to erase us since there have been attacks and murders, everything to harm and undermine our security here. Ayman said on the Knesset channel that we must leave the country because we worked their land and if they do not throw us into the sea and all the Knesset members did not respond, did not respond, enough to start taking it seriously. I do not really want the audience that does not give up. Here is a small state, so expel those who do not want to recognize that here is our homeland.