20 years have passed since the last Fatah Conference, but on Tuesday, in the presence of some 2,200 participants, including Israeli MKs, the event opened, hosted in PA-occupied Bet Lechem.

Taking their prominent places at the event, invited as “guests of honor, were three Israeli Arab MKs, Dr. Ahmed Tibi, Talab al-Sana and Muhmad Barakeh. Tibi according to many stole the show with his opening remarks, explaining that he and his colleagues are a part of the Palestinian people, and they support the two-state solution that will lead to the establishment of the State of Palestine.

“Areas of Palestine must be cleansed of settlers” he explained, rejecting Israel’s plan of removing many yishuvim but leaving settlement blocs. “I call on settlers to get out of our land and our souls. What Israel needs to do is not to freeze settlements but to dismantle them” Tibi told the crowd.

He stressed that the Israeli Arabs are an integral part of the Palestinian people as well as being the “original residents who will never ever leave. We are the land owners and were here first. Those who came last should be the first to leave”.

Tibi is quoted by Yisrael HaYom as stating he does not fear those calling to place him on trial for his treasonous words, stating he stands behind his statements and retracts nothing. He called on “settlers” to leave the Palestinian lands, labeling them “a stumbling block to peace” in the region.

Minister of Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein called Tibi’s statements a “declaration of war”, joined by Minister Michael Eitan, who said “Tibi’s words are a stumbling block to peace”. Yisrael Beitenu MK Robert Ilatov called on Tibi to decide which parliament he represents, adding in any normal democratic country he would not be permitted to accept Palestinian citizenship.

MK (Ichud HaLeumi) Dr. Michael Ben-Ari turned to Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin and the Knesset legal advisor to check into the legality of stopping the salaries of the MKs who attended the Fatah event.

The Land of Israel Legal Forum has turned to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to launch an investigation against Tibi for violating laws against incitement and racism.

Israel opened the gates for the Fatah event, permitting participants to make their way from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. Ministers explaining the move stated they do not want to give Fatah an excuse, to permit the PA to blame Israel for permitting delegates from arriving.

Taking a different approach, Hamas in Gaza prevented many delegates from leaving to attend the conference of the rival Fatah faction.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)