Arab Parties in Israel Condemn Blacklisting Hizbullah, Drawing Anger
Arab parties in Israel's parliament have condemned the recent designation of Hizbullah as a terrorist organization by several Gulf Arab states.
Two parties from the Joint List, an alliance of Arab-backed parties, on Monday criticized the move by the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu snapped back by asking how they would respond when Hizbullah fires rockets at their communities.
"Will you still condemn (the designation) when Hizbullah is shooting missiles at your villages? Do (you think) they will distinguish between (your) blood and ours?," Netanyahu wondered.
Hizbullah fired thousands of rockets at Israel in the summer of 2006 during the Jewish state's aggression on Lebanon.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah recently threatened to strike a chemical facility in Haifa in northern Israel.
Lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman also blasted the Joint List, calling its condemnation “beyond absurd, proving that every day this band of terrorists that continues to sit in the Knesset is an embarrassment to Israeli democracy.”
The Arab parties drew anger last month after meeting relatives of Palestinians who killed Israeli civilians.
Israel's Arab minority enjoys full citizen rights but often face discrimination in areas like employment.
Source: Associated Press, Naharnet
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