Friday 10 June 2011

Haneen Al Zoabi: Racists impose the rules of the political game in Israel

MEMO – Middle East Monitor - 10 June 2011

The Arab member of the Israeli Knesset, Haneen Al Zoabi, has condemned the initiative led by a Jewish member, Yariv Levin, to ban her from traveling outside the country and to prevent her from participating in the Freedom Fleet 2. She described the move as an unparalleled form of racism.

In a press statement made by Tuesday (7/6), Al Zoabi said that “Levin does not decide my movements and I am not waiting for either him or anyone else to ratify my political work”. She added derisively that, “the next step is that Levin would give me a detailed list of what is politically permitted and probably tell me what to do, what to think, and what to support or oppose.”

She stated that this MP who chairs the Knesset is operating with an understanding that “racism has no end in Israel, and racists are the ones who set the rules of the political game which will be reflected on all levels of the political spectrum in Israel”.

She stressed that the real political struggle is to hold on to the ethical, humanitarian and national positions in every sphere; ranging from the struggle against land confiscation, demolition of Palestinian homes, the fight for recognition of the Palestinian identity, and the struggle to end the Israeli occupation.

It is noteworthy that MK Levin had approached the Legal Counsel of the Israeli government with a  request to issue an order banning Al Zoabi from traveling outside the country and participating in the Freedom Fleet 2 to Gaza.

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