Minister Landau
Photo: Tal Shahar
MK El-Sana
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Minister Landau refuses to meet MK El-Sana
Yisrael Beiteinu member sends Arab MK letter saying he will not grant his request to discuss Bedouin sector because he 'refuses to unequivocally condemn Hamas' terror activity'; El-Sana: I guess an Arab lawmaker has to convert in order to meet with Landau
Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau (Yisrael Beiteinu) refused to meet with Knesset Member Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) some two weeks ago, citing the Arab lawmaker's "failure to publicly denounce Hamas' terror activity."
El-Sana requested the meeting to discuss issues related to the Arab sector in general, and specifically the Bedouin minority.
In an official letter to El-Sana, Landau said he did not consider the MK a representative of the Arab public.
"I've been an MK since 1992, and I was certain the meeting would be scheduled," El-Sana said in response.
Landau further wrote in the letter, "I see no point in holding the meeting, particularly in light of your refusal to unequivocally condemn Hamas' terror activity and call on your constituents to assist the Israeli security forces in their fight against it.
"Furthermore, I do not consider you a representative of the Arab and Bedouin communities, most of which do not identify with terror," said the minister.
An infuriated El-Sana added, "I read the letter twice because I thought there was some sort of mistake. In Landau's mind, to schedule a meeting with him to discuss the sewage system or other issues his office is in charge of, an Arab MK must convert to Judaism and a Jewish MK must become a member of Yisrael Beiteinu."
El-Sana turned to the Knesset Ethics Committee and to Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) and demanded that an urgent session be held on the matter.
"This man (Landau) is breaking his oath to serve all of Israel's citizens," he said.
