Israeli lawmaker criticizes Syria trip

JERUSALEM, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- A senior Israeli lawmaker sharply criticized Druse community members -- including a member of the Knesset -- who traveled Thursday to Syria.

Member of Knesset Sa'id Nafa, of the Arab left-wing Balad party, said the trip is aimed at maintaining relations between Druse in Israel and Syria as well as continuing diplomatic contact between Syrian and Israeli Arabs, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

However, Deputy Knesset Chairman Majalie Whbee criticized Nafa and the 330 other Druse for making the trip despite Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit's refusal to authorize the travel.

"The trip of flattery to (Syrian President Bashar) Assad, initiated by members of the school of (former Member of Knesset) Azmi Bishara, represents only the extremist margin groups and not the mainstream Druse population of Israel. If the Syrians really wanted to help the Druse going to visit the holy sites of the community, they would not ask to do it with the mediation of Bishara and his associates' propaganda machine," Whbee said in the Post report.

"The trip today is another sign for the state that sticks its head in the sand and is not doing enough to halt subversive actions perpetrates under the auspices of Balad and its leaders," Whbee added.