Israeli Arabs and the referendum over the Golan

The chairman of the Israeli Likud Party, Ariel Sharon, said on Tuesday that the Arab citizens in Israel are citizens in the state of Israel, and they cannot be prevented from taking part in the voting which will be held over any agreement with Syria on withdrawal from the Golan.

In statements he made to the Israeli radio on Tuesday Sharon expressed his conviction on the need to decide the result of the referendum by a strong majority due to the fact the debated matter is a matter of destiny.

Meantime, member of the Israeli Knesset for the Arab list Ahmad al-Teibi refused on Monday to support (vote) the statement made by the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak in Knesset on Monday over the peace agreement with Syria.

In an interview with the Israeli radio on Tuesday al-Teibi said that Barak's statement which lasted for 20 minutes did not even mention one world about the Palestinian track.

He added "I am in support for the withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories. The Golan is an occupied Syrian territory and Israel has to withdraw until the last centimeter from the Syrian and Lebanese territories. But the essence of the conflict in the Middle east is the Palestinian track and I have said to Barak that he had forgotten the Palestinian track and that I will not vote for his statement."

Al-Teibi continued "we back the just and comprehensive peace and withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories, but not at the expense of the Palestinian track as the Israeli side seeks." He noted that this is an Israeli political trick.