Israel threatens to strip Arab MPs of citizenship
Israeli Deputy Interior Minister Yaron Mazuz has threatened to revoke the citizenship of Arab lawmakers in the Knesset should they push ahead with their objections to social restrictions on Palestinians.
The deputy minister issued the threat to lawmakers from the Arab Joint List coalition during a debate on the lifting of restrictions on “family reunification,” which prevent Palestinians, who marry Israeli nationals, from receiving Israeli citizenship.
"We are doing you people a favor by even allowing you to be seated here,” Mazuz, who is also a member of Premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, said.
“It's unthinkable that from this abode, people will go out and participate in terror flotillas” against Israel, Mazuz said, adding, “You are the first who ought to return your ID.”
The Joint List, which is an alliance of four predominantly-Arab parties, has strongly denounced Netanyahu for remaining silent on Mazuz's insolent remarks.
Aida Touma-Sliman, an Arab female lawmaker, launched a broadside against Netanyahu, saying, "The prime minister is justifying incitement against us. Shame on him. I am a native of this land. My father was born here before the establishment of [Israel]. No one is doing me a favor by giving me an ID card."
The condemnation was echoed by Meretz MK Issawi Frej, another Arab MP in the Knesset.
“Bibi [Netanyahu] thinks I need to thank him for the Israeli citizenship, Bibi thinks he’s doing me a favor,” Frej said. “So, Bibi, you aren’t doing me a favor. I am an Israeli citizen by right, not by charity, and if you don’t want me here, you are invited to take my citizenship away.”
International organizations and rights groups have accused the Tel Aviv regime of violating the basic rights of Arab natives living across Israel.
JR/KA/HMV
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