Zoabi: Israel fears Palestinian unity
Balad MK says Israel views Fatah-Hamas reconciliation as threatening, 'strives to deepen rift between Palestinian people'
Knesset member Hanin Zoabi (Balad) slammed Israel's reaction to the Palestinian unity deal, saying that "this unity is perceived as threatening because it empowers the Palestinians, that recognition of the Palestinian people's rights and the end of the occupation is sure to threaten Israel."
Speaking at a special Knesset plenum called even though the House is in recess, she added that "it is clear that this government's primary goal in negotiating with the Palestinian Authority is not to reach a peace agreement, but to deepen the rift between Palestinian people and bolster the Gaza blockade – as stated by the head of the opposition herself.
"Are the Palestinians to be seen as terrorists simply because they strive for unity?" she continued. "Since the dawn of history, nations have fought, used force and war – and have lost many of their sons – for the sake of unity. Is unity power? Yes. And it is a condition for a nation's existence," she concluded.
Vice Premier Silvan Shalom rebuffed Zoabi's statements, saying she was "upset over not having been invited to the signing ceremony in Cairo."
Israel, he continued, has been pursuing peace talks with the Palestinians for two years, only to be deferred. "Why? Because the PA has a clear, unilateral path to pursue by September. After that, they'll find other excuses."
Shalom further reminded members of the Plenum that the Hamas Charter clearly states that Israel has no right to exist.
At the beginning of the session, the Arab Knesset members who attended the Cairo signing of the Palestinian unity deal were verbally attacked by several members of the Right.
MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu) said that he planned to file an official complaint against them with the Knesset's Ethics Committee: "These MKs clearly don’t remember that they have been elected to the Israeli Knesset, as the side with Hamas, which calls for the destruction of Israel."
MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al) slammed what he called the Israeli Knesset member "hypocrisy," saying that "Israel is indirectly negotiation with Hamas for the sake of one solider but you refuse to negotiate with the PLO and Hamas for the sake of two nations… who did you talk to about the tahadiya (temporary truce)?! You are the last people who can preach to us about anything."
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report
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