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Last update - 20:53 31/10/2007
Arab MKs: Bid to bar trips to enemy states is 'racist'
By Shahar Ilan and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Israeli Arabs, Knesset 

Israeli Arab lawmakers responded angrily Wednesday to proposed legislation that would prevent anyone who travels to a country classified as an enemy state from serving as a Knesset member.

The Knesset plenum approved proposals for two bills on this issue in preliminary readings on Wednesday.

The bills were drafted by right-wing MKs Zevulun Orlev of National Union-National Religious Party and Esterina Tartman of Yisrael Beiteinu.
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MK Ahmed Tibi (Ra'am-Ta'al) said that "the Knesset is steeped in racism. Corrupt members of Knesset want a Knesset without Arabs. The face of the Knesset is the face of Esterina: Knesseterina. If I am invited [to enemy states] I will go regardless of the law. I am sure that a person who violates an unjustified law, or whose conscience is not completely clear, and is willing to pay the price and be imprisoned in order to raise public awareness regarding the injustice in the law, then that person is showing his respect to the most supreme values."

Talab A-Sana (Ra`am-Ta`al) said that "the bill is opposed to peace, the Arab public, and its representatives that are visiting Arab states. This is a dark bill that constitutes political persecution, and shows what a substandard level the Knesset has reached."

The bills were approved by a majority of 52 in favor and 19 who opposed. MK Zehava Gal-On (Meretz) maintained that the bill was racist.

Hadash Chairman MK Mohammed Barakeh said that "If we have to choose between loyalty to our people, or serving in the Knesset, then good luck to the Knesset. We don't want you."

During the hearing, Barakeh called out to other MKs, "choke along with the Knesset." MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud) slammed Arab MKs in return, saying, "you believe in Syrian democracy."

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      1.   arab MK`s visiting enemy states 15:40  |  bear 31/10/07
      2.   Racist? 16:00  |  Gee 31/10/07
      3.   Israel a democracy? 16:05  |  Chris Linthwaite 31/10/07
      4.   Is Esterina Tartman 16:07  |  Chris Linthwaite 31/10/07
      5.   Israel IS a RACIST STATE 16:08  |  POP 31/10/07
      6.   Loyalty versus traitorousness 16:10  |  Nik Miller 31/10/07
      7.   In other words: Arabs cannot obey laws not made by Arabs 16:16  |  McQueen 31/10/07
      8.   hehe this is too funny 16:23  |  peter 31/10/07
      9.   You can`t have it both way 16:26  |  Commonsense 31/10/07
      10.   racist? 16:27  |  roger 31/10/07
      11.   hey Arab MK members 16:28  |  James Kevin O`Leary 31/10/07
      12.   Other democracies 16:28  |  Leo 31/10/07
      13.   yo POP, makes them fit right into the neighborhood doesnt it 16:28  |  boxley 31/10/07
      14.   racist? 16:31  |  larry 31/10/07
      15.   Is this racist: "WIPE ARAB MKs OFF POLITICAL MAP"?Let`s ask Arabs 16:34  |  Ben 31/10/07
      16.   Allow them to visit, Do not allow them to return. 16:46  |  Mike 31/10/07
      17.   Tartman: The Racist 16:47  |  Double Click 31/10/07
      18.   Racist? Are Arabs Racist? 16:54  |  Steve 31/10/07
      19.   Well of course Arab MPs don`t like it! 16:54  |  redmike 31/10/07
      20.   LUDACRIS 16:55  |  Nephtaly 31/10/07
      21.   BISHARA=PASSED DATA TO HEZBOLLAH 16:55  |  WARRIOR 31/10/07
      22.   hipocrisy 16:59  |  Rio 31/10/07
      23.   #13 - who is them and which neighborhood? 17:02  |  redmike 31/10/07
      24.   Everything Is Racist, Everything Is Nazi 17:05  |  dyinglikeflies 31/10/07
      25.   WHAT SUPRISE? ISRAEL IS A RACIST STATE 17:06  |  JACKAL 31/10/07
      26.   # 9 Commonsense 17:18  |  Lynn 31/10/07
      27.   Can Jews feel free in Arab streets as Israelis-Arabs do in Israel 17:19  |  Joseph E . 31/10/07
      28.   Racism 17:22  |  Jorma Joutsensalo 31/10/07
      29.   Lynn 17:25  |  Gee 31/10/07
      30.   EXCELLENT PROPOSAL! 17:32  |  SG 31/10/07
      31.   Only a Racist would suggest banning visiting enemy countries wron 17:38  |  David 31/10/07
      32.   Israel is a Pluristic society, unlike Racist Jordan Palestine 17:41  |  David 31/10/07
      33.   @26, lynn, syria is not in a state of war with USA. 17:43  |  vladimir 31/10/07
      34.   THIS IS NOT A RACIST ISSUE PEOPLE 17:44  |  B`Galil 31/10/07
      35.   THE LEGISLATION IS STUPID AND THE RESPONSE IS DAFT 17:45  |  J.Coon 31/10/07
      36.   Should of had this law 60 years ago... 17:49  |  Jordan 31/10/07
      37.   ARAB MK`S ARE DISLOYAL 17:54  |  Rich 31/10/07
      38.   Lynn #26 17:55  |  David Israel 31/10/07
      39.   During WW2, were German-Americans allowed to visit Berliners? 17:58  |  Racism 31/10/07
      40.   Our taxes pay them: we decide where they can`t go 17:58  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      41.   Playing the race card like its $2 blackjack 18:01  |  Richard S 31/10/07
      42.   Hardly Racist 18:02  |  Ron 31/10/07
      43.   Nik Miller # 6 18:04  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      44.   Chris Linthwaite # 3 18:06  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      45.   The word racism 18:08  |  David Israel 31/10/07
      46.   Israel is stupid 18:08  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      47.   Jackal # 25 18:10  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      48.   David #32 18:10  |  Tareq 31/10/07
      49.   Lynn # 26 18:12  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      50.   Did anyone say Azmi Bishara? 18:16  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      51.   you can go to arab states but as an official Rep of the State 18:17  |  topanga 31/10/07
      52.   a further confirmation of the only viable solution ! 18:24  |  victor hardman 31/10/07
      53.   to Lynn 18:26  |  goldenberg 31/10/07
      54.   YOU CAN GO TO YEMEN,LEBANON,JORDAN,SYRIA ,EGYPT,QATAR...... 18:38  |  ILSupporter 31/10/07
      55.   Who`s the racist? 18:38  |  Zvi Swerdlove 31/10/07
      56.   MK Ahmad Tibi (Raam-Ta`al) and other Arab MKs in Knesset 18:45  |  Haham me Bat Yam 31/10/07
      57.   Chris Linthwaite and "POP" 18:46  |  JES 31/10/07
      58.   cuckoo clocks 18:48  |  Don Quinne 31/10/07
      59.   Margie in TA wants proof 18:52  |  Boycott 31/10/07
      60.   Do Arab States Allow It? 19:06  |  Liliane 31/10/07
      61.   Let them go "one way." 19:07  |  Semsem 31/10/07
      62.   #5. And the Arab States are not Racist? Only the Jews 19:10  |  Elly 31/10/07
      63.   If we have to choose between loyalty.. 19:12  |  the surprized 31/10/07
      64.   It would be magnificent ... 19:13  |  Murray 31/10/07
      65.   Most Arab MKs are a 5th Column 19:13  |  Albert 31/10/07
      66.   ISRAEL ISN`T RACIST, ANYONE CAN HATE IT AND BE AN ENEMY! 19:15  |  ATTA TYPPESH 31/10/07
      67.   The enemy within 19:15  |  Denton 31/10/07
      68.   Boycott 19:25  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      69.   Not racist 19:26  |  Sue 31/10/07
      70.   on Tibi`s response (is he prepared to pay the price?) 19:33  |  Avi 31/10/07
      71.   POP 19:36  |  JOJO 31/10/07
      72.   # 40 margie 19:39  |  Axel 31/10/07
      73.   #3CHRIS PROVES AGAIN, ONE RULE FOR JEWS ANOTHER FOR EVERYONE ELSE 19:44  |  Mitch Iginer 31/10/07
      74.   The Arab-Israeli Fifth Column aka the "enemy within" 19:48  |  Mark Hamil 31/10/07
      75.   arab MK`s 19:48  |  Edifice 31/10/07
      76.   Arabs have a greate life in Israel and lets hope 19:49  |  TOMY 31/10/07
      77.   As an Israeli-Arab, I support the law 19:51  |  Rami 31/10/07
      78.   Axel 19:52  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      79.   LILIANE 19:52  |  JOJO 31/10/07
      80.   Avi # 70 19:55  |  Tareq 31/10/07
      81.   Pretext to Ethnical Cleansing 19:55  |  Kris 31/10/07
      82.   Law should be limited to "actively in war with" 19:56  |  Bob 31/10/07
      83.   I am just posled about this,Tell me it is a joke. 19:56  |  TOMY 31/10/07
      84.   Chris Linthwaite 20:02  |  Yaakov 31/10/07
      85.   81: No pretext of antisemitism by Kris 20:04  |  David Teich 31/10/07
      86.   Yet Arabs prevent Israelis from visiting their countries 20:05  |  Gili 31/10/07
      87.   Most anti Israel crowd exspects from Israel 20:08  |  TOMY 31/10/07
      88.   Tareq 20:09  |  Edifice 31/10/07
      89.   Margie in Tel Aviv 20:13  |  Deborah 31/10/07
      90.   Arabs shouldn`t be in the Knesset anyway 20:14  |  Nemesis 31/10/07
      91.   #50 Margie in Tel Aviv 20:19  |  Deborah 31/10/07
      92.   Loyalty? 20:20  |  Terence 31/10/07
      93.   Deborah the bigot 20:27  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      94.   Is it really "racist" to suggest that neither Jews nor Arabs may 20:29  |  Samir Khouri 31/10/07
      95.   Deborah 20:32  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      96.   Racist laws 20:32  |  Truths 31/10/07
      97.   Re: #81 Kris Yes, Reminds me of Austria 20:37  |  Mark Hamil 31/10/07
      98.   # 78 margie 20:40  |  Axel 31/10/07
      99.   If arab MKs are going to quit the Knesset this great news ! 20:42  |  redmike 31/10/07
      100.   Margie in Tel Aviv 20:42  |  Edifice 31/10/07
      101.   #64 - I love your dry humor - you bring laughter - thanks ! 20:45  |  redmike 31/10/07
      102.   hi Edifice 20:52  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      103.   Axel 20:53  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      104.   "Racist" has come to mean... 20:54  |  Scharker Yid 31/10/07
      105.   Fine... No Visiting Jewish Enemy States Either! 20:56  |  Efox 31/10/07
      106.   re: Murray 21:01  |  Efox 31/10/07
      107.   This article does not mention that it is already illegal to visit 21:05  |  Briton 31/10/07
      108.   re: Racism 21:05  |  Efox 31/10/07
      109.   re: ATTA TYPPESH 21:10  |  Efox 31/10/07
      110.   re: Nemesis 21:11  |  Efox 31/10/07
      111.   #103 margie 21:25  |  Axel 31/10/07
      112.   #96 Truths or ludicrous 21:27  |  David Israel 31/10/07
      113.   Margie in Tel Aviv 21:28  |  Edifice 31/10/07
      114.   Hooray for Rami # 77 (end) 21:45  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      115.   Tareq # 80 21:49  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      116.   Murray # 64 21:57  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      117.   #81 - Very clever, Kris 21:58  |  JES 31/10/07
      118.   Kris - you have it backward 81 21:59  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      119.   Edifice 22:00  |  Tareq 31/10/07
      120.   Bob # 82 22:00  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      121.   If the people yelling "racism" want to end it, 22:03  |  David Teich 31/10/07
      122.   Deborah # 89 22:05  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      123.   Hooray for Sammir Khouri # 94 (end) 22:06  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      124.   Edifice # 100 22:08  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      125.   racist, apartheid, nazizionist, genocide, etc. 22:11  |  utagawa 31/10/07
      126.   to Chris #3 22:46  |  Judith 31/10/07
      127.   law: "anyone" who travels to enemy state 22:51  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/10/07
      128.   Racist? 22:52  |  brant 31/10/07
      129.   #26, Lynn 22:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/10/07
      130.   Axel 22:59  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/07
      131.   Jackal 23:11  |  Jane 31/10/07
      132.   Tareq 23:14  |  Edifice 31/10/07
      133.   Axel, you are talking nonsense 23:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/10/07
      134.   Tareq # 119 - exactly the point 23:40  |  ChanahS 31/10/07
      135.   # 80 Tareq, Here is the answer to your question 23:53  |  Haham me Bat Yam 31/10/07
      136.   Arab MKs 23:56  |  Pedro Dinis 31/10/07
      137.   Cipora # 127 00:08  |  Philippe 01/11/07
      138.   the bill isnt racist because it applies to everybody 00:49  |  zionist forever 01/11/07
      139.   arab mks, etc. 00:52  |  zayda 01/11/07
      140.   ARAB MK"s what next?legalise calling for war against Israel 00:53  |  PETER SM 01/11/07
      141.   ARAB MK"s what next?legalise calling for war against Israel 00:53  |  PETER SM 01/11/07
      142.   # 133 cipora 00:54  |  Axel 01/11/07
      143.   # 130 margie 00:56  |  Axel 01/11/07
      144.   TO # 5 POP 01:17  |  Mark Bernadiner 01/11/07
      145.   Arab MKs not disloyal 01:30  |  Slibovitz 01/11/07
      146.   What happens to enemy countries Arabs back from visiting Israel? 01:44  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/11/07
      147.   They have a sense of humour dont they!! 01:51  |  Danite 01/11/07
      148.   If so, then impeding Israelis to visit Arab states is what? 02:04  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/11/07
      149.   #93 Margie in Tel Aviv 02:07  |  Deborah 01/11/07
      150.   #95 Margie in Tel Aviv 02:18  |  Deborah 01/11/07
      151.   To Cipora (#133) 02:28  |  Morris Valentine 01/11/07
      152.   #21 warrior. Where is the proof... 02:32  |  Maureen Ann 01/11/07
      153.   Arab MK 02:52  |  x Time 01/11/07
      154.   TO # 26 Pelosi 03:02  |  Commonsense 01/11/07
      155.   # 38 David Israel, one can only hope 03:32  |  Lynn 01/11/07
      156.   # 49 Chanah S 03:33  |  Lynn 01/11/07
      157.   MAUREEN N Bishara & others called for war against Israel. 03:34  |  PETER SM 01/11/07
      158.   # 53 goldenberg 03:41  |  Lynn 01/11/07
      159.   # 129 Cipora 03:47  |  Lynn 01/11/07
      160.   #93 Deborah 03:53  |  Tired of the lies 01/11/07
      161.   #157PeterSM. Why do you choose... 04:42  |  Maureen Ann 01/11/07
      162.   One man`s racist is another man`s nationalist 05:14  |  Yoav Naor 01/11/07
      163.   Deborah the racist and bigot 05:55  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/11/07
      164.   MAUREEN N And Why do YOU live in Australia instead of with Arabs 06:03  |  PETER S.M. 01/11/07
      165.   #151, Morris Valentine 06:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/11/07
      166.   THE BILL SHOULD INCLUDE OLMERT (PA VISITS),PERES, BARAK)))) 06:50  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 01/11/07
      167.   Margie in Tel Aviv 07:35  |  Deborah 01/11/07
      168.   #160 07:39  |  Deborah 01/11/07
      169.   The Chutzpah of open disloyalty to the state 08:04  |  Shalom Freedman 01/11/07
      170.   `Once upon a time...` story teller PeterSM. 08:14  |  Mauraeen Ann 01/11/07
      171.   WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? 10:03  |  Sam 01/11/07
      172.   Deborah 10:35  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/11/07
      173.   "speciously silent", ChanahS 12:31  |  Murray 01/11/07
      174.   #1bear.Always some bright(???) ideas from RW`s. 14:37  |  Ari Ben J. 01/11/07
      175.   It would be nice to know ..How many RACISTS Laws 14:48  |  Becky 01/11/07
      176.   Is IS Saudi Arabia a n enemy STATE? IF it is ..... 14:57  |  Osmani 01/11/07
      177.   Tareq... Samaritans are not Jewish... 15:30  |  Nephtaly 01/11/07
      178.   Deb, Margie is having a field day with you :) 15:45  |  Xtian 4 Israel 01/11/07
      179.   To Cipora (#165) 16:54  |  Morris Valentine 01/11/07
      180.   i think this quotation sums it up: 18:08  |  gene 01/11/07
      181.   Deborah (#149) Learn your History 18:24  |  Gil 01/11/07
      182.   #179, Morris Valentine 19:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/11/07
      183.   To Copora 19:30  |  Morris Valentine 01/11/07
      184.   #181 Gil the deflector. 20:23  |  Deborah 01/11/07
      185.   #183, Morris Valentine 22:30  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/11/07
      186.   Deborah (#184) Change you Vocabulary (1) 22:52  |  Gil 01/11/07
      187.   Deborah (#184) Change you Vocabulary (2) 22:53  |  Gil 01/11/07
      188.   #176..Osmani 00:15  |  Nemesis 02/11/07
      189.   Deborah A Song just for You (The Neighborhood Bully) 01:07  |  Gil 02/11/07
      190.   To Cipora (#185) 01:54  |  Morris Valentine 02/11/07
      191.   Deborah 10:12  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/11/07
      192.   Deborah another view 10:13  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/11/07
      193.   Gil ahi, toda 10:14  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/11/07
      194.   Margie in Tel Aviv אין בעד מה 13:23  |  Gil 02/11/07
      195.   CJK # 127 Aren`t you being a hypocrite again 13:53  |  American in NY 02/11/07
      196.   179: Morris must have inhaled too much smoke 13:55  |  David Teich 02/11/07
      197.   To David Teich (#196) 16:19  |  Morris Valentine 02/11/07
      198.   197: Morris, you`ve yet to do anything "normally" 14:27  |  David Teich 04/11/07
      199.   Wow Censors! A new low 15:42  |  David Teich 06/11/07
      200.   To David Teich (#198) 23:26  |  Morris Valentine 13/11/07
      201.   200: Then you`ve led a sheltered life, Morris 14:07  |  David Teich 18/11/07
      202.   To David Teich (#201) 05:41  |  Morris Valentine 27/11/07
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