A delegation from the European parliament, including ambassadors to Israel from European Union countries, was not allowed to enter the Knesset, Tuesday morning, for a meeting with members of the Joint Arab List. The Knesset claimed, according to Haaretz, that the meeting breached protocol and was thus barred from taking place within the legislature.
Furthermore, MKs Yousef Jabareen and Aida Touma-Suliman were forced to hold their discussion with the delegation outside the Knesset building after the parliament’s speaker, Yuli Edelstein, conditioned the meeting on the presence of the Knesset’s diplomatic adviser.
The MKs refused to accept this demand and the speaker said the delegation would not be allowed entry.
During their meeting, MK Touma-Suliman reportedly briefed the delegation about the political situation of Israel’s Arab community and blasted what she dubbed unbridled racist legislation by the current government, stressing that such actions highlight the undemocratic nature of the government.
