Last update - 00:00 06/09/2007
MK Nafaa ignores gov't travel ban, arrives in Syria for a visit
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
MK Said Nafaa (Balad) on Thursday ignored a ban on Israeli lawmakers from traveling to enemy states and arrived in Syria as part of a delegation of Druze religious officials.
Nafaa's office said the Israeli Arab MK's visit is aimed at strengthening ties between Israeli and Syrian Druze, as well as improving links bertween Israeli Arabs and the Syrian people.
Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit recently rejected a request by Nafaa to allow the delegation make a pilgrimage to the grave of Nabi Habil in Syria. In his response, Sheetrit wrote that "[Security authorities] on all levels refuse to approve visits by Druze religious officials to Syria and Lebanon."
Israeli lawmakers and citizens are legally forbidden from traveling to Syria and Lebanon, with which it is technically still at war and are deemed enemy states. In the past, MKs and former MKs have been summoned for questioning for visiting Beirut and Damascus.
Police have recently called a number of Druze officials for questioning, including Shikh Namer Namer, warning them not to travel to Syria.
"Why threaten us? Do we live in a police state?" Namer told Haaretz.
Another Druze official, Jihad Sa'ad, was also called for questioning despite his expressed opinions against visiting Syria.