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Last update - 16:42 03/04/2008 MK Tibi's visit in Beirut sparks rage among Israel's right wing By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service Tags: Ahmed Tibi, Arab MKs, Lebanon  MK Ahmed Tibi (Ra'am-Ta'al) visited Beirut on Thursday, sparking controversy among Israel's right wing. MK Arieh Eldad (National Union-National Religious Party) said that "he who ignores the law and visits an enemy state becomes himself an enemy of the state." The media reported Thursday morning that Tibi made a stop in Lebanon on his way back to Israel from Yemen. It is not clear whether the Israeli Arab MK held meetings with Lebanese officials during his visit. Advertisement Tibi said that the reports regarding his Lebanon visit were wildly exaggerated and were essentially untrue. According to Tibi, he was in Lebanon on a one-hour stopover. "This is a controversy over nothing," he said. "The right wing has been drawn into a baseless assault and it wants to see us [Arab MKs] outside the Knesset by way of fascist laws. I will travel to Lebanon as I please and not according to right wing hollering," Tibi added. Tibi retuned on Thursday from Yemen after meeting with senior government officials there over the course of recent days, including Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Tibi was invited to lecture before students and scholars at a Yemeni university. National Religious Party Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev, who initiated a bill that would bar MKs from visiting enemy states, said Thursday that Tibi's visit in Lebanon illustrates the urgent need to expedite the legislation. The Knesset approved the bill in its first reading this week. Tibi maintains that the bill is not worthy and illegal. MK Eldad called on Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to prosecute Tibi. MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu) said that Tibi was once again "with a crude foot, stepping all over Israel's law." Related articles: Lieberman to Arab MKs: One day we will 'take care of you' Arab MKs: Bid to bar trips to enemy states is 'racist' Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bread will abound J'lem court allows pizzerias, bakeries to sell leavened products during Passover. The looking glass A T.A. film festival tackles Israel's hardest issues from war to polygamy.   1.   OK, So there is a law or there is chaos 15:44  |  BenAmozeg 03/04/08   2.   Tibi has not only isulted the `right-wing` but all of Israel!!!!! 15:48  |  Ben Uziel 03/04/08   3.   Heating up for "Transfer" 15:56  |  Yaakov Sullivan 03/04/08   4.   What was the lecture about? 16:01  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 03/04/08   5.   I`m not right wing, but outraged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 16:26  |  Citizen Zero 03/04/08   6.   the law? 16:31  |  Murray 03/04/08   7.   Don`t let him back in 16:41  |  Righteous gentile 03/04/08   8.   How about visiting Yemen? 16:50  |  Maurice 03/04/08   9.   it`s because tibi is an enemy of israel 16:50  |  b cohen 03/04/08   10.   What law was broken??? 16:59  |  Saul 03/04/08   11.   So what exactly is MK Tibi accused of? 17:21  |  Deborah 03/04/08   12.   If An Arab from an enemy state would visit Israel 17:51  |  Isac 03/04/08   13.   No deborah, it`s called giving aid to the enemy in time of war 18:03  |  x-ray 03/04/08   14.   Lebanon and Yemen are different 21:54  |  Slibovitz 03/04/08   15.   what about the Lebanese authorities...? 23:00  |  a reader 03/04/08   16.   How did he entered Yemen an Lebanon with Israeli....passport when 02:20  |  Confused 04/04/08

Today Online Israel, U.S. to boycott UN Durban II anti-racism conference Responses: 27 Former militant leader: We failed entirely in the Intifada Send response Editorial: What kind of Israel do you want? Send response Akiva Eldar: The lie of peace and the nonsense of security Send response Antony Lerman: Europe's Jews deserve better Send response Rosner's Domain The Iranian bomb and the chain reaction (WTR) Intermarriage pushes the question: what does it mean to be Jewish? Poll: Who'll win the Jewish vote in PA? Israel Factor: McCain-Barak, the dream team Israelis approve of U.S. leadership (WTR) More Headlines 09:17 Israel and U.S. to boycott UN Durban II conference 09:03 'Marching toward total ruin' 07:14 Intelligence sources: Syria hasn't called up reserve forces 01:42 ANALYSIS: Zigzag response to Syria tensions doesn't signal war 07:16 Bill banning MKs from visiting hostile states goes to plenum 04:58 Russian-Israelis abroad unaware repatriation program targets them 02:18 Iran links up more centrifuges as it continues nuclear program 23:38 T.A. film festival tackles Israel's hardest issues from war to polygamy 02:55 Civil defense drill starts Sun.; to include mock chemical attack 05:23 Witness protection program bill passes first Knesset reading 02:34 'Smart classes' bring computerized learning aids to classrooms 06:02 Pope to visit N.Y. synagogue led by Holocaust survivor 06:35 Health Ministry: 'Complacence, negligence' cause patient's death Previous Editions Select Day 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar

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