BANNING OF ARAB PARTIES IN ISRAEL

Early day motion 491, tabled 19 January 2009 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 72 members.

That this House condemns the decision by the Israeli Central Election Committee to ban two Arab political parties, United Arab List-Talal and Balad, from standing in next month's Israeli General Election; notes that this decision further undermines Israel's claims to be a democracy; further notes that whilst their suspension was proposed by the ultra nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu and National Union it was also supported by other Israeli Jewish parties, including Labour; further notes that United Arab List-Talal and Balad currently have seven members of the Knesset and that the reasons cited for the ban include that they had called for equal rights and had refused to recognise Israel as a democratic state; and calls on the Government to make urgent representations to get the ban lifted and to ensure that such measures are never repeated again.

Signatures by party: Labour 46, Liberal Democrat 17, Plaid Cymru 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Independent Labour 1, Scottish National Party 1.