Hadash-Ta'al chairman and Knesset member Ayman Odeh was attacked during a protest in Ness Ziona on Saturday evening when several protesters surrounded his car, spat at him, and caused significant damage to the vehicle, including cracking the windshield and damaging the fender.
Although police were present at the scene, no arrests were made. Eyewitnesses reported that the officers took minimal action, choosing instead to "contain" the situation rather than intervene forcefully.
Following the altercation, Odeh left the area under police escort. Despite his departure, the protest continued, with repeated attempts made to disrupt it. Knessset member Ofer Cassif was among those present, commenting, "The attack is coming from above."
Cassif was also accosted by protesters, according to video footage circulating on social media.
Hadash Ta'al responds to assault on Odeh
Hadash-Ta'al responded to the assault, condemning the violence and asserting that it would not silence their voice. "The brutal attack against Knesset members Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif in Ness Ziona comes from above, rooted in the organized incitement by those who fear a future for peace and democracy. They are afraid that we will raise our voices in a joint struggle against the occupation and for the expansion of the democratic space," the party said.
They added that the damage to Odeh's car "echoes the dark days when a powerless individual, now a mass murderer, used a car as a symbol of violence." Hadash vowed, "The writing is on the wall, but we will erase it without fear and continue to engage with the public. Our struggle has already won, and it will continue to prevail."
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said, "I condemn the violence against Member of Knesset Odeh and call on the police to find those responsible and hold them accountable. There is no place for political violence in a democratic country."
The Democrats party head Yair Golan also responded to the incident, saying, "The violence against MK Odeh is a direct result of prolonged political incitement. Those who vote in the Knesset in favor of ousting an Arab public official because of his opinions cannot be shocked when rioters attack him in the street. This is an attack against the entire Arab minority in Israel. This is a regime coup that comes with street violence, incitement in the Knesset, and zero response from the police."
"We will not remain silent in the face of political violence. We will not surrender to the hatred and racism that come straight from Netanyahu and Ben Gvir. We must unequivocally condemn this violence and continue the struggle to replace the government and repair the State of Israel," Golan concluded.
In a separate incident earlier this week, a bid to remove Odeh from the Knesset failed, sparking public uproar. The attempt was rejected after Haredi Knesset members announced they would abstain from the vote in protest of the lack of progress on the conscription law.
There was no consensus within the opposition bloc on the move. Opposition leader Yair Lapid made it clear that he would not support the initiative unless the entire coalition stood united, with a free vote to be declared in both Yesh Atid and the National Camp.