Marking the international day commemorating the Holocaust, Arab MK (Hadash) Mohammad Barakeh will be a member of the official Knesset delegation visiting Auschwitz to mark the event. His inclusion will mark the first time a non-Jewish MK will be part of the official delegation.
Barakeh is quoted in the daily Yisrael HaYom explaining the decision was not a difficult one, one that did not involve hesitation since he feels it is proper to identify with the victims of the horrors that occurred during that time period. “I want to be among the voices shouting against the atrocities and crimes against humanity”.
“We mustn’t forget however the Nazis did not just murder 6 million Jews, but 50 million people”.
When asked if he is concerned regarding the response to his decision to participate among his colleagues and constituents, Barakeh explained he is aware that his inclusion in the officials Knesset delegation to Auschwitz, stating he knows there will be some who actually oppose him, but “I am comfortable with my role, my decision, and my ongoing efforts towards representing the interests of my people”.
Barakeh told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Sunday morning he is not prejudice and he has proven this during the course of his career, questioning why his inclusion should result in headlines.
When asked why other Arab MKs have never taken part, he explained he believes that the Knesset speaker has never asked since he is not aware of any Arab MKs who were offered the opportunity to participate and declined. “Even those who argue regarding the number, stating it was 3 or 4 million, this too is a tragedy. Less is not acceptable”.
Barakeh added “Because of this tragedy the Jews must be increasingly sensitive to such horrors, more than others”.
The delegation will be headed by Deputy Knesset Speaker MK (Labor) Prof. Yuli Tamir.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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6 Responses
Could the head of the delegation please be replaced by someone more appropriate.
I vividly recall an Israel Aliyah session, here in the U.S., several years ago. The main speaker was Yuli Tamir. Her comments were anti-religious and included negative remarks regarding Dati Leumi Jews and worse regarding Charedim.
Let’s not forget that the Mufti of Yerushalayim was best pals with hitler yemach sh’mo.
To have this yishmaeli on the trip will only detract from its purpose (as his comments above are already indicating).
Of course the Arab MK Mohammad Barakeh should join this group if Yuli Tamir, the ex-“education” minister who wanted to include Naqba study in Jewish schools will be heading this delegation. Who else but Arabs? Why any Jewish MK would join this anti-Israel group is beyond understanding, unless they are all from the terrorist organization Shalom Achshav (Peace Now).
Seems logical.
1. “Hadash” is the Israeli Communist party, and communists didn’t like Nazis either. Indeed, it was the communists who liberated Auschwitz.
2. Communism, especially in a world in which the communist movement is no longer dominated the the Russians or Chinese (who now prefer capitalism in various flavors, and found exploiting workers to be much more profitable), is very close to the ideology of the Israeli left. They fit right into a zionist delegation.
3.Also, Arab communists are extremely likely to prefer being in zionist state (run by their fellow secularists) to an Islamic state (which typically executes atheists). Or to look at it from our perspective, Zionism and Communism are a heck of a lot closer to each other, than either is to traditional Judaism.
#1,
I agree 110%. Yuli Tamir is a self-hating Jew who should have NO position whatsoever in a Jewish state – religious or not. I believe she is one of the founders of the trasonous Shalom Achshav movement.
As for MK Barakeh, perhaps we should be charitable and believe he is beginning to see the error of his ways.
#4, the hostility between communists and nazis is like that between the Calabrian and Sicilian mafias. There’s no difference in principle, just “mi barosh”. The communists and nazis were actually allies until Hitler decided to turn on Stalin like bank robbers turning on each other so they won’t have to share the loot.