Israeli Arab parliamentarians again under fire after they criticize GCC decision to label Hezbollah ''terrorist organization''

Israel Katz

Israeli members of parliament (the Knesset) renewed their cries that Arab representatives have to be removed after the parties Balad and Hadash, who are part of the Joint Arab List,  Monday criticized the decision of the Gulf Cooperation Council to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization. 
"Hezbollah fights against Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this decision only serves the interests of Israel and the US," a Balad spokesperson said. 
The GCC officially decided to label Hezbollah as a terrorist organization last Wednesday. Balad officials explained that they view the decision by the interior ministers of the GCC as dangerous because they are fueling the Sunni-Shia conflict, and adding fuel to the fire of this bloody conflict. Furthermore, the Balad officials claimed, the decision serves to widen the sectarian divisions in Lebanon, Syria, and the wider Arab world.
They also said that "the party doesn't believe that it is correct to tag Hezbollah - an organization which represents a large part of the Lebanese nation - as a terrorist organization, despite criticism over its participation in the fighting in Syria."
Avigdor Liberman, Yisrael Beytenu Chairman, attacked Balad and Hadash's statement. "This is more than absurd, and only proves again that with every day that passes in which this group of terrorists continues to sit in the Knesset, it is a disgrace to Israeli democracy. It is now clear that the Joint Arab List not only represents the most extreme fringes of Israeli-Arab society, but also the most extreme fringes of Arab society in general."
Transportation Minister Yisral Katz (Likud) requested the Knesset Ethics Committee to examine Balad and Hadash's statement. "It is simply unbelievable that these members of the Israeli Knesset are sabotaging the interests of Israel. I call on Ayman Odeh and Jamal Zahalka to join Azmi Bishara in Qatar or Syria. Those are the places for these traitors," Katz said.
Chaiman of the Knesset House Committee, David Bitan (Likud), also attacked the condemnation. "There's nothing left to do but regret the fact that the High Court of Justice did not disqualify Balad from being able to stand in the elections," Bitan said, and added that he will consider asking the Attorney General to examine whether or not the statements support terror.