Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., January 31, 2009 Shvat 6, 5769 | | Israel Time: 00:31 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 00:35 01/01/2009
Arab MKs: Iran news agency falsified anti-Israel remarks attributed to us
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hamas, Palestinians 

Israeli Arab lawmakers denied on Saturday making statements that were attributed to them in an interview with official Iranian media.

In the Iranian report, three members of Knesset - Jamal Zahalka, Ahmed Tibi, and Taleb al-Sana - reportedly issued blistering criticism of Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip, with one member of Knesset said to have warned that the Arab minority in Israel possesses "a demographic weapon" against the Jewish state.

"We are first and foremost Palestinians who are concerned with Palestinian interests," Balad MK Jamal Zahalka is said to have told the Iranian state news agency Fars on Saturday. "The aggressive nature of Zionist society towards the Arabs stems from the fear of the demographic weapon that we have as Palestinians who live here. This exposes the policy of occupation to possible harm in the qualitative balance between Israelis and the Palestinians and this is a situation Israel refuses to get to."
Advertisement
After the contents of the interview was made public, the three parliamentarians denied giving the interview. "We do not know these journalists and we deny that these things were said," said one MK, who demanded that Fars remove the report. "This is bizarre behavior from a professional and journalistic standpoint," United Arab List - Ta'al MK Tibi told Haaretz. "I was never interviewed by them. This interview was faked and concocted."

Tibi was quoted as telling Fars on Saturday that Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip illustrated the extent to which Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is tied to Israel.

Abbas' close relationship with the Israeli government may have precluded him from identifying more emphathetically with the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, Tibi was quoted as telling the Fars news service on Saturday.

Fars also quoted Tibi as saying that Israel has thus far refused to reveal an accurate count of the casualties it sustained during the Gaza operation in an effort to whitewash military miscues it committed during the war.

Tibi was also quoted as saying that the operation led to a rise in Hamas' popularity. "The resistance gained a special standing in the Arab and Islamic - even the international - street and it ripped away the fig leaf which [covered up the fact] that many conspired against the residents of Gaza and the resistance," Tibi reportedly said
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Secret files
Israeli database reveals extent of illegal settlement; defense officials won't publish figures
Letter to the Vatican
Bishop who denied the Holocaust apologizes to pope for causing distress
  1.   Reports like these will boost Lieberman 00:24  |  Zelkha 01/01/09
  2.   What Liars. What morals. 00:04  |  Jo 01/01/09
  3.   Their supporters in the west have one weapon 00:44  |  steve from Raleigh 01/01/09
  4.   Weapon in the hands of Arab Knesset member 00:47  |  Arie 01/01/09
  5.   So what else is new? 00:56  |  Morris Valentine 01/01/09
  6.   Shows the wisdom of Liberman 00:26  |  Ofer 01/01/09
  7.   They say one thing to us, and another thing to them 00:00  |  Hannah 01/01/09
  8.   So are they Israeli Arabs or Palestinian Arabs? 00:57  |  MR 01/01/09
  9.   One day Lieberman will be Prime Minister after Bibi 00:15  |  Liliane 01/01/09
  10.   Arab MKs are Hamas Ambassadors 00:17  |  Semsem 01/01/09
 Haaretz Hot Topics
Conflict in Gaza
Israel vs. Hamas
Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
Israel goes to the polls
More Headlines
00:28 Livni to Cypriot FM: Confiscate weapons from Iranian ship
00:08 Sources: Egypt begins installing cameras, sensors at Gaza border
00:13 Abbas postpones Europe trip, flies to Cairo for 'urgent' talks
00:50 Report: Gaza Hamas heads furious with Meshal decision to end lull
00:21 Israeli Arabs protest banning of PFLP founder memorial service
00:50 Study: U.S. Jewry's willingness to strengthen Israel ties very low
00:32 Blair: Hamas should be part of peace process
00:35 Arab MKs: Iran news agency falsified anti-Israel remarks attributed to us
00:46 Report: Turkish PM Erdogan says 'Palestine today is an open-air prison'
00:30 Jordan`s king meets Mitchell, calls for immediate resumption of peace talks
00:43 Palestinians in Gaza launch Grad rocket into Ashkelon
00:53 Report: Palestinian foreign minister demands EU guarantee Israel won't strike Gaza
00:08 Syria's Assad calls for 'positive' dialogue with U.S.
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Summer in Israel
Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
Passover Vacations
The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida
Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
You can make a direct IMPACT!
on the life of an Israeli soldier
State of Israel Bonds
During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
SURF RAMBAM
Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved