Israeli Knesset drops bill to recognise 1956 massacre in Kafr Qasim

The Israeli Knesset dropped a bill on Wednesday which would have recognised Israel’s responsibility for the 1956 massacre in the Palestinian village of Kafr Qasim.

The bill was opposed by a majority of 93 deputies and only supported by 12. All Palestinian lawmakers voted in favour.

The left-wing Meretz Party was absent from the session, according to reports.

Heated discussions took place during the Knesset session between supporters and opponents of the bill, according to a statement issued by Israel’s legislator.

It was proposed by Palestinian deputies Aida Touma-Suleiman, Ayman Odeh, and Ofer Cassif, all members of the Joint Arab List.

"The draft law proposes that the Israeli government recognises its responsibility for the Kafr Qasim massacre, which was carried out on 29 October 1956, and that commemorating the massacre be part of the school curriculum," the statement read.

It added that despite the numerous statements that indicate the recognition of Israel’s responsibility for the massacre, these statements “remain personal”.

"Every year we present the bill to recognise the Kafr Qasim massacre towards the end of October, and every year the government drops it," wrote Odeh on Twitter.

Odeh said he and his colleague will keep presenting the bill until it is passed.

בכל שנה אנו מעלים את החוק להכרה בטבח כפר קאסם לקראת סוף אוקטובר, ובכל שנה הקואליציה מפילה אותו.
הפעם יש בקואליציה חברי כנסת שהגישו יחד איתנו את ההצעה להכיר בטבח בקדנציות קודמות, אבל גם הקואליציה שלהם הפילה את החוק וממשיכה את הכחשת הטבח. נמשיך להביא את החוק עד להכרה רשמית.

— Ayman Odeh (@AyOdeh) October 27, 2021

Israeli border police – or Magav – killed at least 48 Palestinians in Kafr Qasim, which sat along the de facto border between Israel and the occupied West Bank. Nearly half of those killed were children and teenagers.

The West Bank was under Jordanian control at the time of the massacre.