DR AHMAD TIBI MK

Early day motion 1534, tabled 2 July 2002 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House notes the recent visit to Westminster by Dr Ahmad Tibi MK, an elected Member of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, accompanies by Mrs Barghouti, wife of the Palestinian Leader, Marwan Barghouti, who has been kidnapped and imprisoned following an unlawful attack by the Government of Israel; regrets the decision of the Knesset on Tuesday 25th June to lift the immunity of Ahmad Tibi MK, and to restrict his freedom of movement for two years; notes that 29 Knesset members voted in favour of the measure while 23 voted against; further notes that the Meretz Party, with all its members, opposed the decision and that the Opposition leader, Yossi Sarid, described this step as 'racist against Ahmad Tibi as an Arab MK'; further notes that the decision was also opposed by the Labour Party Leader, Avy Osha'iyeh, who described it as an 'undemocratic measure'; believes that the actions of the Knesset in this case undermine Israel's claim to be a democracy as far as its Arab citizens are concerned and will deepen concern about the growing culture of apartheid which the present Israeli government is showing both towards Israeli Arabs and those living in the Palestinian territories.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.