Image by wikimedia commons

By Aiden Pink May 23, 2017

President Trump’s main speech during his visit to Israel took place on Tuesday at the Israel Museum, rather than the Knesset, the parliamentary building where foreign dignitaries usually speak. One possible reason, according to the Speaker of the Knesset: The Israelis couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t be interrupted by heckling lawmakers.

As Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein revealed in a tweet on Tuesday: “The topic of Trump’s speech at the Knesset emerged as a first option in discussion but it was made clear to the president’s staff that it was not possible to guarantee a speech without interruptions, and that is how it fell off the agenda. Sad!”

Edelstein made similar remarks in front of a nearly-empty Knesset on Tuesday, according to the Times of Israel: “Due to six or seven [Members of Knesset] for whom 20 seconds’ fame is more important to them than the status of the Knesset, the plenary is empty today.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was heckled by MKs from the majority-Arab party Joint List when he addressed the Knesset in 2014.

The Knesset is known for hosting particularly raucous debates, with members often yelling at each other and at guests who testify to committees.

Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com or on Twitter, @aidenpink.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount