Addressing the Knesset plenum, Zahalka expressed support for Arab MKs who have come under attack for refusing to characterize the kidnapping of three Israeli teens in the West Bank as a terror act, and the group said to be responsible, Hamas, a terror organization. While he did not name any specific group or action, Zahalka said Israeli media were “reveling” in recent days in branding Palestinian actions as terrorism. “We will not agree to have a struggle for national liberation labeled as terrorism,” Zahalka said. “We will not make compromises with the occupation… we will tell them the truth, which is our historic obligation.” “Do whatever you want — banish us from the Knesset, hang us — we will not give in on this issue,” he said. “To slander the just struggle to right a historical wrong; to save people from the depths of suffering and despair, of victimhood; to live normal lives — we will not commit this treason.” Zahalka did not condemn outright the use of violence in the Palestinian struggle, saying only that “yes, we do want this struggle to be conducted under the limits of morality and sensibility. Sometimes mistakes are made and we say these are mistakes. “But on the whole it is a struggle for national liberation and not terrorism as the Israeli media is reveling [in calling it] in recent days.” Tensions between Jewish and Arab members of Knesset have run high recently, with the latter attacked for their reluctance to call Hamas a terror organization, as do the US and the European Union. Meanwhile the Israeli public, rattled by the abduction, has shown little patience for such attitudes. Read more: Arab MK tells Knesset: Palestinian struggle not terrorism | The
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 17:22:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015