Arab MKs are mocking the proposed ´Arab Affair Committee,´ saying it is an insult to them and their constituents. MK Barakeh: ´Peretz in the past six months turned into minister of war and abandoned social agenda.´ Also wishes Peretz and Lieberman ´pleasant time together in their relationship´

It seems that the Arab Knesset members are not too pleased with the results of the recent negotiations between Labor chief Amir Peretz and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in light of the new addition of MK Avigdor Lieberman to the coalition along with his right-wing Israel Our home Party.

In fact, the recent statements made by the Arab MK´s are borderline sarcastic and attempt to mock the elaborate and creative proposals Olmert has offered Peretz, especially the new "Committee of Arab Affairs," which was offered in order to smooth Lieberman´s way into the coalition.

"There was always such a committee and nothing came out of it," said MK Talab el-Sana (United Arab List-Ta´al). "This government has a new trend where every problem is answered with a committee. I think that this government has broken the Guinness record for the number of committees it has appointed in such a short period. We lost our faith from all these committees."

MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta´al) said that the attempt to add Lieberman to the government by forming an Arab affairs committee is insulting. "You shoot the corpse and then you abuse it, and after that you even pay for its burial," said Tibi. "I don´t understand this creature called the Arab Affairs Committee, and I don´t see Amir Peretz treating Arabs in Gaza so good in the past months. The labor party is part of the problem, not part of the solution," he said.

The Arab MKs are also not pleased with the turn Amir Peretz, together with the Labor party, has taken since they entered the government after the last elections. MK Mohammad Barakeh (Hadash) said that "in the past six months, Amir Peretz has turned into a minister of war and has completely abandoned his social agenda." As to the new marriage of Labor with Lieberman´s Israel Our Home, Barakeh wished them a "pleasant time together in their relationship." (Copyright © Yedioth Internet. 10/25/06)