Ahmad Tibi (archive photo)
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Tibi protests 'anti-Arab bills'
United Arab List-Ta'al leader emails suggested amendment to Knesset member immunity law in protest of supposed anti-Arab bills, initiatives; ‘Arab MK won't breathe, won't move, won't stand, and won't sit without permission of authorized officials," he says sarcastically
United Arab List-Ta'al leader MK Ahmad Tibi distributed a document using the Knesset's internal email service Wednesday suggesting an amendment to the Knesset member immunity law, which he claimed worsened the position of Arab representatives in the Knesset.
Tibi took a sarcastic approach to what he called racism in the Knesset.
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"Immunity of Knesset members will not apply to Arab MK's even within the Knesset," Tibi wrote, "An Arab MK who wishes to go from his office to plenum hall may only do so with the permission of the Knesset's security officer or someone on his behalf."
"An Arab MK who wishes to go from his office to a public bathroom in the Knesset may only do so after gaining permission from the Knesset Speaker and after consultation with authorized officials," Tibi continued.
"An Arab MK won't breathe, won't move, won't stand, and won't sit without the permission of the interior minister and authorized officials," he said.
'Cynicism filled with pain and rage'
The suggested amendment also said, "An Arab MK who dares to oppose government policy, or condones IDF operations in occupied territories, or claims prejudice, will be sentenced to three years in prison, a fine of up to NIS 200,000 (USD 47,000), and the nickname 'Extremist MK'."
Tibi explained that he distributed his suggestion because "several initiatives have been raised recently to narrow the steps of Arab citizens, including Arab MK's".
Tibi was referring to a bill preventing family reunification with Palestinian partners, as well as a bill by MK Gilad Erdan (Likud) which passed Wednesday in an initial call to revoke the citizenship of any citizen who travels to Syria or Lebanon.
Tibi told Ynet, "The words were written with a cynicism filled with pain and rage. We're at our wits end with the flood of anti-Arab bills. I consider it very serious, the fact that the government supported Erdan's bill. In my opinion, this Knesset would pass any anti-Arab bill, even if it included a close stating that the sun rises in the west."
