Sarsur. Refused to comment
Photo: Hagai Aharon
Khatib: MKs boasting of false deeds
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Islamic Movement leaders wrestle for credit
Two leaders say they are responsible for getting bus of hajj pilgrims stalled at border into Israel
A bus carrying Muslims returning from the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca Sunday was delayed at the border between Israel
and Jordan.
When the bus was permitted to enter Israel members of the Islamic Movement began to fight over who was responsible for obtaining its permission to cross.
Arab reports say the chairman of the Islamic movements' southern branch, MK Ibrahim Sarsur (United Arab List-Ta'al), heard from his family that the bus had been stuck for six hours. The reports say he spoke to directors of the Allenby Bridge crossing and ordered them to let the passengers through.
But a known adversary of Sarsur and deputy chairman of the movement's northern branch, Kamal Khatib, was outraged at the reports.
"MKs are boasting of things they didn't do," Khatib said. His presence was apparently the cause for the delay, as he was detained for questioning upon arriving at the border.
In a counter-move, the southern branch published a statement chastising Khatib for his response. "We never imagined the huge amount of hatred he emits," the statement said.
"This hatred has existed for many years, but yesterday he just went overboard," it added. Sarsur refrained from commenting, but the lengthy statement from the southern branch sufficed to display their disapproval of Khatib's conduct.
Khatib said he would not "resort to their level, but everyone knows Sarsur was not the one who released the bus".
