“We are traveling to Brussels to ask the Europeans to be loyal to their values of protecting human rights, especially minorities,” Zahalka said.
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 01:52Israeli Arabs and their supporters take part in a rally to protest against Jewish nation-state law in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, Israel August 11, 2018(photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)
A delegation of Knesset members from the Joint List will be visiting the European Union parliament in Brussels this week to seek condemnation of the Jewish Nation-State Law.MK Yousef Jabarin and Jamal Zahalka will be meeting with top European Union officials and members of parliament.“We are traveling to Brussels to ask the Europeans to be loyal to their values of protecting human rights, especially minorities,” Zahalka said. “The Nation-State Law was a declaration of war against us. We have a right to defend ourselves, including by enlisting the support of the international community.”Jabarin said the reason the overture of his faction to the EU was important was because in cooperation agreements between Israel and the EU, Israel committed itself to respect human rights and democratic values.“We see this bill as a gross violation of these agreements, so we will be asking the EU to use all the tools at its disposal to end this violation,” Jabarin said. “Israel can to no longer boast to the world that it is the only democracy in the Middle East when it is enacting racist legislation and building an apartheid regime.”Jabarin said the MKs would also complain about other steps by the Israeli government that they see as racist. The American decision to stop funding UNRWA is also expected to be a key topic in the meetings.
