Knesset President: 'Create the Palestinian state in London or in Paris!'

Knesset President Amir Ohana sparked a major controversy during his speech at the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva.

In a fiery speech, Ohana lashed out at the plans of some European countries to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state, and denounced the hypocrisy of those who, according to him, "align themselves with the enemies of truth and morality".

"If you want a Palestinian state, build it in London or Paris," Ohana declared from the podium, in a clear allusion to recent statements by Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, who have expressed their intention to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state next September.

The statement provoked an immediate reaction: the delegations of Iran, Yemen, and the Palestinian Authority left the room in protest, walking directly beneath the stage while Ohana continued his speech.

Far from moderating his tone, the Knesset President decided to display on his tablet a video showing members of the Iranian Parliament shouting "Death to Israel, death to America!" during an official session last June.

The outcry occurred after the approval of an Iranian law to sever ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Ohana held nothing back: "This is not an underground terrorist cell. This is the official parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a full member of this forum, which openly calls for the annihilation of two sovereign states."

Ohana also targeted the President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who recently presented as evidence of an alleged famine in Gaza a photograph published by The New York Times, showing a seemingly malnourished child.

"What Ghalibaf did not say is that this child suffers from cerebral palsy. Even The New York Times has acknowledged this and corrected the article," Ohana stated. "But Ghalibaf takes advantage of every blood libel that the fake news media hands him. Shame on both of them!" he exclaimed.

In the most emotional moment of his speech, Ohana recalled that, while he was speaking, at least 50 Israeli hostages remained captive in Gaza, under Hamas control since the October 7 attack.

"They are hungry, tortured, terrified, alone, in the dark tunnels of Gaza," he said. He concluded with a direct appeal to the world's parliamentary leaders:

"I implore you to choose truth over propaganda, conscience over convenience, virtue over fashion. Choose to be on the right side of history: on our side."