United Arab List decides to suspend membership in Israeli Government Coalition
Jerusalem24 – The United Arab List, decided last night Sunday, to suspend its membership from the Israeli government coalition and Knesset in protest of continuous Israeli actions in occupied Jerusalem, as well as the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
MK Mazen Ghneim had threatened Israeli PM Naftali Bennet to withdraw personally from the coalition if Israeli violations at the mosque do not stop.
This comes before an emergency meeting that the council of the southern Islamic movement, which is planned to take place tonight. The meeting is to discuss the implications of the current events in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and to end the continuous incursions and violations against the mosque and the worshippers inside.
According to reports, the United List is affirming the suspension of its membership in the coalition to lighten the internal pressure it is facing in Palestinian communities. Especially the leadership of the southern Islamic movement.
In the past two days, voices have been getting louder from influential members of the Islamist movement and supporters of the United List, demanding they withdraw from the government because of the events in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In a statement released yesterday, the Islamist movement said “storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a grave crime on sacred and holy sites as well as all Muslims around the world.” The statement also added that the violence will, “take the region in a cycle of violence that the occupation is responsible for.”
The statement demanded that the Israeli government take control of the settler groups that are “trying to ignite the region for political and religious reasons, and stop attacking Palestinian worshippers.”
The United Arab List managed to enter the Israeli Government Coalition with Bennet, and because of that the parties in opposition to Netanyahu created a government and prevent his return to power.
If the United List withdraws from the coalition, Bennet’s government will be unable to maintain its majority. This will lead to early elections.
