Lawmaker says Israeli Arab MKs could quit parliament en masse to protest 'harm to Al-Aksa'

Talab Abu Arar of the Ra’am – United Arab List faction made the remarks at a rally in front of dozens of people in the Beduin town of Rahat.

By YASSER OKBI/ MAARIV HASHAVUA
Palestinians react to tear gas fired at rioters in Jerusalem (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinians react to tear gas fired at rioters in Jerusalem
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli Arab lawmakers could quit the Knesset en masse to protest Israel’s “harmful actions” against Al-Aksa Mosque, an Arab parliamentarian warned on Friday.
Talab Abu Arar of the Ra’am – United Arab List faction told dozens of people attending a rally in the Beduin town of Rahat on Friday that “if the harm done to Al-Aksa continues, and in the event that the Netanyahu government doesn’t preserve the status quo, I will recommend to the members of the Arab factions to quit the Knesset.”
The rally, which was held under the banner of “Al-Aksa Mosque is a red line and a ball of fire, and whoever harms it could get burned,” was staged by the Rahat popular committee. Among the speakers was the head of the southern branch of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Hamad Abu Da’abs.
“People should pay attention to the requests of the chief rabbis in Israel who say that [Jews] should not go up to Temple Mount,” Abu Arar said. “If [the government] continues to damage the mosque, then there won’t be an Arab leadership in Israel, and then we will consider resigning en masse from the Knesset.”
Those in attendance reacted positively to Abu Arar’s speech, vowing “to sacrifice themselves for Al-Aksa, if it comes to that.”