Much-a-do has been made about calls by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and other so-called “right-wing” politicians doubting the loyalty, and threat of the Israeli-Arab citizens. Those ignorant of the reality regarding the Arab-Israeli citizens quickly label Avidor, and other like him “racist”, “nazi-like”, “nationalist”, or “ultra-right-wing”, thus allowing them to ignore any of the claims made.
It is in the following context however that individuals like Avigdor Lieberman sound the alarm.
Israeli-Arab Indicted For Hiz’b’allah To Murder IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.
Hizbullah recruited an Israeli-Arab and ordered him to collect intelligence on IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi ahead of plans to assassinate him to avenge the death of the guerrilla group’s military leader Imad Mughniyeh.
On Monday, an indictment was filed at the Petah Tikva District Court against Rawi Sultani, a 23-year-old Israeli-Arab from the town of Tira, alleging that he was recruited by Hizbullah in the summer of 2008 when he traveled to Morocco to attend a Balad Party summer camp.
The pan-Arab summer camp takes place every year in a different country, and was also attended by other Israeli-Arabs who are Balad activists.
During his stay at the camp, Sultani allegedly met Hizbullah operative Salman Harab, and provided him with information about Ashkenazi, particularly his routine at the Kfar Saba country club where the two occasionally worked out together.
The predominantly Arab town of Tira is just north of Kfar Saba, Ashkenazi’s hometown.
Harab, a 26-year-old Lebanese Shi’ite Hizbullah operative, met personally with the group of Israeli Balad activists, introduced himself as a Hizubllah member, and gave them a lecture about the conflict and struggle against Israel, read the charge sheet.
To put a finer point on this, “Balad” is an Israeli-Arab political party that has held seats in the Israeli Knesset. Here is their official site. (notice the colors. Israel’s are blue & white)
Unfortunately, this is not nearly the first time an Israeli-Arab has committed outright treason against Israel. In fact, they have a long history of it, beginning with Israel’s creation in 1948. Some of the recent instances have been covered here by The Blogmocracy.
Israeli-Arab M.K.s Attend “Durban 2″ Despite Government Boycott
Um…About Those Loyal Israeli Arabs – April 1
– Rocks were thrown at security forces, and shouts of “Death to the Jews!” could be heard.
Israeli Muslim Leader Attacks Police!
Court Finds Two Arabs Guilty of Plot Against Pilots & Scientist
This is all despite the fact that Arab Israelis have full and equal rights pursuant to Israel’s Declaration of Independence, which guarantees “freedom of religion, conscience, language, education, and culture.” Since 1948, Arab Israelis have run the political and administrative affairs of Arab majority municipalities and have elected representatives to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
Is this just a small problem? Hardly! There are more than one million Arab citizens who live in Israel. That is 1/6th of the entire population.
The sad, and scary truth about questioning the loyalty of Israeli-Arabs is that Avigdore, and other “right-wingers” like him are right – there is a very genuine reason to worry! No amount of purposeful naivety, or wishful thinking can change this very disappointing -but real- fact!
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(*Update by WrathofG-d: 8/31/09 12:00 p.m.)
MK Ben-Ari has a recommendation of how to help curtail these issues that is sure to get him labeled “racist” or worse:
MK Ben-Ari: Declare Balad Illegal
In a letter to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz Monday, MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) demanded that he declare the Balad party illegal. “Those who kept quiet during the spy activities of Bishara, and refused to declare Balad illegal then, are now witness to the development of a movement that has gone completely out of control and works from within the Knesset to destroy Israel,” the letter stated.
Sultani is being defended by his father, Fuad Sultani, who said that his son is either making the story up or is being framed. “The indictment has been blown up out of proportion for political purposes. My son was just bragging that he knows the Chief of Staff, but of course he does not know him. The defense will be examining this indictment closely,” he said.
Security officials said that it was no accident that Sultani was recruited by Hizbullah at a Balad-sponsored camp: Former Balad chairman ex-MK Azmi Bishara fled the country after the Second Lebanon War in light of allegations that he sold information to Hizbullah about IDF troop movements and the location of sensitive installations during the war. The elder Sultani also represented Bishara during several legal proceedings surrounding the former MK’s resignation from the Knesset.
{The Article From Israel National News}
