Arab MK Calls for Sanctions in The Guardian

Jamal Zahalka

According to the headline of an article on The Guardian’s Comment is Free site “It’s time for sanctions on Israel – The merger of the rightwing parties will increase extremism and racism against Palestinians. Sanctions are the only answer.”

The author states:

As the danger of racism depends not only on its callousness but on its power and influence, this coalition at the heart of government suggests a sharp rise in levels of racism and a dramatic decline in democracy.

And:

Whoever wants a just peace and to prevent looming wars, whoever wants to put an end to the crimes committed by occupation, whoever wants to combat racism, must help in imposing sanctions.

What’s noteworthy about this opinion piece is not the accusations of racism against Israel that are something of a staple for The Guardian but the utter hypocrisy behind the author’s call for sanctions.

For the author is none other than a Member of Knesset for the Balad party. Seems that despite being an elected Arab representative in Israel’s parliament, Jamal Zahalka can’t wait for the results of an Israeli election to be held on January 22, 2013. Just the act of unifying the Likud and Yisrael Beitenu parties is enough for him to jump the gun and call for prohibitive measures against Israel.

As if he needed an excuse.