THE Israeli parliament has passed a law banning any citizen who has visited an "enemy" country in the previous seven years from standing for election, triggering the anger of Israeli Arab MPs. Fifty-two members of the 120-seat parliament approved the law at a third and last reading today while 24 MPs voted against it, parliamentary sources said. The legislation states that anyone who has visited "an enemy country" over the past seven years cannot stand for parliament. It is aimed particularly at MPs from Arab-led parties, some of whom have travelled to Lebanon and Syria, neighbouring countries officially at war with Israel. "From now on, any Israeli who visits an enemy country without permission will not be elected to the Knesset for (a period of) seven years," said Zvulon Orlev, an MP from the far-right National Religious Party.
THE Israeli parliament has passed a law banning any citizen who has visited an "enemy" country in the previous seven years from standing for election, triggering the anger of Israeli Arab MPs.
Fifty-two members of the 120-seat parliament approved the law at a third and last reading today while 24 MPs voted against it, parliamentary sources said.
The legislation states that anyone who has visited "an enemy country" over the past seven years cannot stand for parliament.
It is aimed particularly at MPs from Arab-led parties, some of whom have travelled to Lebanon and Syria, neighbouring countries officially at war with Israel.
"From now on, any Israeli who visits an enemy country without permission will not be elected to the Knesset for (a period of) seven years," said Zvulon Orlev, an MP from the far-right National Religious Party.
