New legislative initiative calls to limit the activities of MK Ahmad Tibi
MK Ofir Akunis (Likud) proposes so-called “Tibi Law,” seeking to limit the activities of fellow MK Ahmad Tibi • Initiative comes on the heels of Tibi's actions at the U.N. General Assembly • Knesset speaker rejects idea, saying democracy will be eroded.
Gideon Allon
MK Dr. Ahmad Tibi says he will freely express his position in New York for Palestinian bid to U.N.
A proposed new law, known as the “Tibi Law,” calls for an official ban on the activities of Israeli Arab MK Ahmad Tibi as a consultant or envoy for the Palestinian Authority or any other foreign government. The proposal was put forward by MK Ofir Akunis (Likud) and says, “If [Tibi] engages in such activities, he will not be able to participate in the next Knesset elections.”
Akunis proposed the law in response to Tibi's recent conduct at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Tibi flew to the meeting on the official Palestinian Authority plane and sat with the Palestinian delegation at the U.N.
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“His conduct totally violates the pledge of allegiance sworn by every Knesset member to remain loyal to the state of Israel and faithfully fulfill his roles as a Knesset member,” Akunis said.
Tibi has attracted a great deal of criticism over his years in government, angering many Israelis by repeatedly vocalizing his support for the Palestinians. Tibi, a former political adviser to Yasser Arafat, comes from the Arab town of Tayibe, and was trained as a physician at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was first elected to the Knesset in 1999 as a member of the Arab Balad political party. Currently, Tibi is a member of the Raam-Taal Arab political party and serves as deputy speaker of the Knesset.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin objected to the proposed law. “Taking steps that seek to restrain the activities of any MK will eventually restrain democracy,” he warned.
“Even if they legislate 10 ‘Tibi Laws,’ Tibi will not back down,” a Raam-Taal official said. “He will not change his stance opposing the occupation and opposing racism, and will not relinquish his quest to attain freedom and equality for Palestinians.” The party has three other Knesset members: Talab El-Sana, Masud Ganaim and Ibrahim Sarsur.
Speaker Rivlin is a moron.
Allowing MK's to engage in treason is suicidal.
Some days I shake my head in amazement.
IDF and Police cover up a terrorist murder last week of Asher Palmer and his infant son Yonatan. Full disclosure the last fun thing the Palmer family did the night before the murder was attend my daughters wedding.
Now the Knesset fails to act against a traitor, thus putting the Knesset in the role of traitor to the Jewish people.
