New Arab party will not be nationalistically Arab in its nature,
By Elad Benari, Canada
In a change of direction from the current situation, a new Arab party being formed for the upcoming elections will support the State of Israel and will not be nationalistically Arab in its nature, Channel 2 News reported on Friday.
According to the report, the members of the new party will be well-known public figures. It will likely be headed by Atef Qrenawi, a public figure from the city of Rahat in southern Israel, who is also a member of the Likud Central Committee and is responsible for reducing the gaps between the Arab and Jewish populations in the Ministry of Finance.
A source involved in the negotiations to set up the new party told Channel 2 News that the party will focus exclusively on issues related to the Arab population in Israel, and especially the population of children and young couples.
“We’re tired of Arab MKs who are more concerned with foreign policy in the Arab world and the Palestinian people,” said the source, adding, “We want to take care of the Arab population in Israel.”
Many of the Arab MKs who presently serve in the Knesset are notorious for their anti-Israel positions and actions. One of these MKs is Hanin Zoabi, who took part in the 2010 attempt to violate Israel’s naval blockade of Hamas. Zoabi was aboard the ship Mavi Marmara, where IDF soldiers who boarded were violently attacked. A video clip indicates that she knew of the planned attack in advance.
Zoabi was later caught rubbing elbows with senior Hamas terrorists. She has also been criticized for anti-Israel speeches, such as one saying that Israel has “no right to a normal life” and a more recent address claiming that “the Israeli occupation” was behind the murder of Israelis in Bulgaria.
Another Arab MK, Ahmed Tibi, went to New York to be a part of the Palestinian Authority’s delegation to the United Nations when it presented its unilateral statehood bid last September.
As well, Tibi praised the Palestinian Authority’s “martyrs” at a ceremony held on the occasion of “Palestinian Martyrs Day” and sponsored by PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
MK Ofir Akunis has asked the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Zoabi from running in the upcoming elections.
As for the new party, the source told Channel 2 it plans to begin operations soon and reach every Arab home in Israel.
“It’s time that everyone get to know us and know that there is another way and another direction,” said the source. “These are not people who will serve as members of Knesset for 20 years and not take care of their own population.”
@ Michael Devolin:
Dear Michael
I have been on gravol for a loooooong time.
Sometimes it works…most of the times though, it’s like you said:
‘Tis time to throw up.
🙂
There must be a significant population of IL Palestinians Muslims who realize that peace with the Jews is in their best interest. IL Palestinians already have a much better quality of life and advantages than in any other Muslim countries.
“Jews and Arabs are cousins…”
I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“…the Arab Palestinian people.”
Now I’m definitely going to throw up.
These Arabs are to be commended for taking on the effort to help the Arab Palestinian people. Jews and Arabs are cousins, and finally there may be Arabs who have decided to let their intelligence shine through.
They are now targets of every religious Muslim in the Middle East and beyond. Nice thought on their part, but nothing “pro-Israel” can be accomodated by Islam and Muslims.
@ Goldi Steiner, Founder and Chair of Canadians for Israel’s Legal Rights (CILR):
@ Goldi Steiner, Founder and Chair of Canadians for Israel’s Legal Rights (CILR):
I’ve known of Arab leaders and politicians in Israel who genuinely support the country. One was a friend, Nawaf Massalha, who was an MK for labor. I hosted him when he came to the U.S. in the early ’70’s, right after the Yom Kippur War. He spoke at a number of west coast universities and defended Israel. Nawaf later served in a high position in the foreign ministry. I’ve moved on from my attraction to Labor, but I suspect that there are other Arabs in Israel who are sincere in their support of the state and co-existence. Unfortunately, their voices seem to be drowned out now by the radicals. Incidentally, Nawaf’s sister in law was a victim of a terrorist bus-bombing in the early 2000’s. Fortunately, she survived as far as I know. I’m no longer in touch with him, but I do believe there are moderates and supporters of the state among the Arab population. How many, I don’t know.
i am kind of suspicious!
i wonder how many votes they will get…