By Ryan Jones
Jul 03, 2006
Israel's Arab parliamentarians Monday refused calls by their Jewish colleagues to demand the immediate release of abducted IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit, and instead urged their "Palestinian" brothers to extend an ultimatum issued earlier in the day to allow more time for the brokering of a prisoner swap involving jailed terrorists.
During a heated afternoon debate, Arab Member of Knesset Mohammed Barakeh accused Israel of trying to turn Gaza into southern Lebanon. His Hadash Party introduced a motion of no-confidence over what it labeled pre-laid plans for the invasion of Gaza and arrest of Hamas lawmakers that had nothing to do with Shalit's abduction.
As the motion was roundly defeated, Kadima MK Ruhama Avraham noted that the current offensive in Gaza would come to an immediate end if Shalit were freed, and urged Barakeh to "call for the release of the soldier" instead of harping on Israel for taking action to save him.
Barakeh's response: "I won't do anything at your request."
MK Moshe Sharoni of the Pensioner's Party reacted with harsh words for his less-than-loyal Arab associates:
"You are cooperating with terror. You are supporting the terrorists. You place is not here. Go there."
Sharoni went on to point out that the Arab lawmakers seem to keep conspicuously quiet when it is Israel under attack.
"Where were you when they murdered an 18.5-year-old boy in Ramallah? Did you say anything then? You kept quiet. Where are you when they are fire Qassams day after day at Sderot?"
Yisrael Beiteinu MK Alex Miller added that those Arab MKs concerned for their incarcerated Hamas brethren should go take their places in the Palestinian Legislative Council.
"I think that those MKs who were disturbed by the fact that we arrested parliament members from Palestina can go there and take their places. They will certainly be welcomed warmly."