Mr Reuven Rivlin Knesset Speaker
Parliament of the State of Israel
Dear Mr Reuven Rivlin
I strongly condemn the Knesset’s unprecedented decision to undemocratically deprive MK Haneen Zouabi’s parliamentary privileges for participating in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, protesting the illegal comprehensive blockade against the Gaza strip with its severe humanitarian and economic consequences for Gazan families, by rescinding her diplomatic passport, revoking her right to have litigation fees as well as not being permitted to leave the country.
Freedom of speech and association are fundamentals of democracy and this Knesset decision undermining Israel’s democracy is currently impolitic while Israel’s reputation as 'the only democracy in the Middle East' is in ruin internationally stuck in a quagmire of its grave violations of international law:
· four million Palestinians living under Israeli occupation have no political rights at all, the illegal siege against Gazan families, the illegal brutal attack of the Freedom Flotilla in June, the illegal settlements and their incessant expansion on stolen Palestinian lands, the continued construction and existence of the illegal apartheid wall, the daily crimes against humanity perpetrated by the State of Israel, illegal demolition of Palestinian homes, illegal assassinations, Israel’s war crimes committed in Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s illegal nuclear programme, the torture of Palestinian detainees including children, hundreds of prisoners detained without charge, unfair military trials, the illegal expropriation of Palestinian tax monies, Israel’s illegal apartheid policies including Military Orders No. 1650 and 1649.
I urge the Knesset to immediately and unconditionally repeal the undemocratic ruling against MK Haneen Zouabi and reinstate her full parliamentary privileges.
Sincerely |