In response to the event involving four members of Knesset from the Arab List visiting Turkey, Minister of Culture & Sports (Likud) Miri Regev commented “Their place is in Gaza, and not in Jerusalem”.

Regev on Sunday morning addressed the fact that four Arab MKs visited with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, praising him and his efforts on behalf of the Palestinian people and against the State of Israel.

“Time and time again, Tibi and his group insist on proving to everyone that they are not really worthy of being members of the Knesset, they are Trojan horses seeking the evil of the State of Israel,” said Minister Regev. “They continue the terrorist Mavi Marmara cruise in which their friend Hanin Zoabi began, and their place is in Gaza and not in Jerusalem.”

Ahmed Tibi, Talab Abu Arar and Masoud Ganaim from the Ta’al List arrived on Saturday in Turkey, where Erdogan told them that he “greatly appreciates your work in the Knesset against the wave of racism and the laws against you.”

The official reason for the meeting is the arrest and detention of three Israeli Arabs who came to the country for a kidney transplant. According to local law, a kidney must not be received from a non-first-degree donor. At the end of the meeting Erdogan ordered the release of one of the three who were arrested and agreed to cancel the proceedings against the other two who were detained.

The Foreign Ministry said that Israeli citizens should be warned not to be tempted to seek medical treatment in foreign countries without carefully examining the procedures in accordance with local law.

Yisrael Beitenu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman responded to the meeting, saying that “for the first time that we and the Turkish ruler Erdogan agree on something, during his meeting today with the Knesset members from the joint list, Erdogan praised them for serving the interests of the Palestinians out of Knesset. With such a ‘kosher seal’, it is clear that they belong to the parliament in Ramallah and not to the Israeli Knesset.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)