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Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
MK Talab el-Sana
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky

Arab MK wants to visit Syria

Interior Ministry forbids MK Talab el-Sana from traveling to Syria where he had planned meetings with senior Syrian officials, including President Bashar Assad

Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz has forbidden Knesset Member Talab el-Sana from traveling to Syria where he had planned meetings with senior Syrian officials, including President Bashar Assad.

 

The Arab MK is yet to announce whether he intends on abiding by the interior minister’s decision.

el-Sana said that it is absurd that a member of Knesset is forbidden from accepting an invitation to visit the Syrian parliament.

 

“If I leave, I’ll leave as an MK carrying a peace message. I don’t understand why an MK cannot visit a country wanting to pursue the peace path with Israel,” he said.

 

El-Sana is still considering whether to visit Syria via Jordan along with a delegation of 30 Israeli Arabs.

The Ministry of Interior received a formal request from el-Sana to visit Syria, yet the request was rejected following legal recommendations.

 

Pines’ office argued that el-Sana failed to present humanitarian or other causes that justify his request and therefore it was turned down.

 

“Visiting an enemy country is illegal,” the ministry said.

 

The demand coincides with recent comments by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in which he ruled out the possibility of restarting peace talks with Damascus.

 

Ilan Marciano contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.08.05, 22:14
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