Haaretz: Knesset Revokes Arab MKs Privileges Over Participating in Gaza Freedom Flotilla

Local Editor

The Knesset on Tuesday voted to revoke three parliamentary privileges from Arab MK Hanin Zuabi due to her participation in the Gaza aid carrying Freedom Flotilla that was attacked by the "Israeli" navy in May, while Zuabi regarded the Knesset act as an attempt by the MKs to punish her out of vengeance, Zionist newspaper Haaretz reported.

Haaretz quoted Zuabi responding to the vote, "It's not surprising that a country that strips the fundamental rights of its Arab citizens would revoke the privileges of a Knesset member who loyally represents her electorate."

Zuabi went on saying that the vote represents a dangerous precedent with regard to "Israel's" Arab citizens and is a hostile message toward her, accusing the "Israeli parliamentarians of implementing racist laws in order to repress their Arab counterparts.

According to Haaretz, the three key privileges the Knesset revoked from Zuabi are, "The privilege to exit the country - meant to prevent Zoabi from fleeing "Israel" if she commits a felony or has debts in "Israel"."

"The second to be rescinded is carrying a diplomatic passport, which according to the Knesset's legal adviser, is a privilege that does not grant diplomatic immunity so revoking it would not make it more difficult for Zuabi to fulfill her duties," the paper added.

"The third is the right to have the Knesset cover litigation fees of an MK if he or she faces trial," Haaretz reported.

Zuabi received several assaults in the Knesset after the punishments were announced, including remarks like, "you embarrass the citizens of "Israel", the Knesset, the Arab population and your family."

Moreover, Haaretz added, another Zionist Knesset member handed Zuabi a fake Iranian passport with a photograph of her in it, saying that it will serve her on her diplomatic incitement trips.

"Ms. Zuabi, I take your loyalty to Iran seriously and I suggest you contact Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and ask him to give you an Iranian diplomatic passport that will assist you with all your diplomatic incitement tours, because your "Israeli" passport will be revoked this evening", the MK said.

The Balad party that Zuabi represents condemned the Knesset's decision calling it "racist and anti-democratic."

"The MKs who incited against Zuabi spill her blood - they are calling on the public to harm her and following their decision, her life will be threatened," Haaretz reported Balad's statement as including.

"These MKs will be responsible for any harm that may be caused to her," the statement added.