Arab MKs back Swedish Foreign Minister against Israel
Joint List party condemns Israel for 'crimes' against Palestinians, blames 'occupation' for terror, radicalism and war.
By Dalit Halevy
First Publish: 1/17/2016, 3:32 PM
Ayman Odeh
Basel Awidat/Flash 90
The Arab Joint List party attacked Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in a statement on Saturday, over his condemnation of Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom after she called for an investigation of Israel for "executing" Arab terrorists in the act of attacking.
Netanyahu last Thursday called the statements "foolish" and "immoral," and a day earlier Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) announced that Swedish officials are no longer welcome to visit Israel.
But the Arab party, which is the third largest in the Knesset at 13 seats, claimed that Israel is trying to rally international public opinion by presenting itself as trying to defend its civilians, and arguing that it faces the threat of annihilation.
The Arab MKs further said that all those who disagree with Israel and criticize its "crimes" against the "Palestinian people" are condemned by the state as being hostile and racist. They added that Israel's defense of its right to protect itself from terror is part of a campaign to negate the legitimacy of international criticism.
Backing Wallstrom's calls for an investigation of Israel's self-defense in the face of numerous daily assaults, the Arab party claimed that Israel is imposing a siege on the Palestinian Arabs, is arresting them, expropriating their lands, killing them and then demanding that the world close its eyes.
The "occupation" is the cause for all violence, radicalism, and war, according to the party, which said any people placed under occupation throughout history struggled and fought for their freedom and independence.
The accusation of the Arab MKs, blaming Israel's existence for Arab terror and war, somewhat echoes Wallstrom's comments last November that provoked a firestorm of criticism, when she appeared to blame the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist attacks in Paris on "Palestinian frustration" with Israel.
Netanyahu last Thursday called the statements "foolish" and "immoral," and a day earlier Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) announced that Swedish officials are no longer welcome to visit Israel.
But the Arab party, which is the third largest in the Knesset at 13 seats, claimed that Israel is trying to rally international public opinion by presenting itself as trying to defend its civilians, and arguing that it faces the threat of annihilation.
The Arab MKs further said that all those who disagree with Israel and criticize its "crimes" against the "Palestinian people" are condemned by the state as being hostile and racist. They added that Israel's defense of its right to protect itself from terror is part of a campaign to negate the legitimacy of international criticism.
Backing Wallstrom's calls for an investigation of Israel's self-defense in the face of numerous daily assaults, the Arab party claimed that Israel is imposing a siege on the Palestinian Arabs, is arresting them, expropriating their lands, killing them and then demanding that the world close its eyes.
The "occupation" is the cause for all violence, radicalism, and war, according to the party, which said any people placed under occupation throughout history struggled and fought for their freedom and independence.
The accusation of the Arab MKs, blaming Israel's existence for Arab terror and war, somewhat echoes Wallstrom's comments last November that provoked a firestorm of criticism, when she appeared to blame the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist attacks in Paris on "Palestinian frustration" with Israel.
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