First-time Knesset members Mansour Abbas (Ra`am – Balad) and Yitzhak Ze'ev Pindrus (United Torah Judaism) and Mtanes Shihadeh (Ra`am – Balad) delivered their inaugural speeches in the Knesset plenum on Tuesday and presented the issues they plan to advance in parliament.

MK Abbas explained that “Islam, like any other religion, believes that it is right, but it does not force itself on others and supports the principle of freedom of religion. It recognizes Judaism and Christianity and calls on all three religions to unite around the faith in G-d, benevolence and a partnership in the path of peace."

“Today, Islam is facing difficult challenges, like any other religion or modern ideology – to overcome extremism and preserve its moral and human character and the moderation within it," he added. “Islam's status in the State of Israel should be displayed with pride – the religion of a million and a half citizens – but it is difficult to pass over the continued injustice that is the lack of recognition of the Islamic religion, in various aspects. There are many injustices which must be rectified."

Turning his attention to the state of Arab society in Israel, MK Abbas said it currently suffers from “organized crime waves which have claimed nearly 1,342 lives since 200, according to the Aman Center, in addition to thousands who have been physically and mentally injured. I have no doubt that the society which won the war of existence in the homeland will also win the war on crime. The State of Israel can be a partner in this war and lend a hand to its Arab citizens, but, for the moment, it is hesitating and giving up part of its control and sovereignty to a group of criminals who move freely on the streets of Arab communities, day and night."

Addressing the Palestinian issue, MK Abbas said “the connection with the Palestinian people cannot be severed, and it should not be severed. Our vision: two nations living in peace, security and partnership; two countries: a State of Israel with equality for all its citizens, in which the status of Arab society is equal to that of Jewish society, and an independent Palestinian state that should be created in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with Al-Quds as its capital. We will never give up and never accept defeat and we will not accept the consequences of al-Nakba."  

MK Pindrus addressed the issue of recruiting yeshiva students to the IDF and said, “In the Land of Israel there are thousands of Torah students who sacrifice their lives to preserve the torch, the tradition and the values. Without them, we have no right to exist in this land. Without them, we have no foundation for real values." Those who study the Torah, he said, “are the crown which carries our magnificent past and guarantee our future existence in this land."

Specifying the challenges the Haredi public faces, MK Pindrus said “Everyone has the right to a good life in this country: the Haredi, the Arab, the religious, the secular, the Druze, the Circassian. A Haredi man or woman also deserve proper employment which does not infringe on their religious principles or the assertion of their rights in the workplace. Haredim also deserve attainable housing solutions - particularly when most of the plots belong to the State. The right to education is for every parent according to his/her belief, certainly in a Jewish state. Those who choose Torah (“biblical") education should not [suffer any consequences], certainly not in kindergartens, where there is no argument on the core [study] subjects, and certainly not in special education… There is no reason in the world why a Haredi child's rights should be violated [merely because he is Haredi]."

Addressing the public debate surrounding the relations between the judicial and legislative branches, MK Pindrus said “The nation of Israel should not look to import a constitution from an outside source. The nation of Israel, when is seeks a constitution from another place, only loses. It loses, because we have the crown of every constitution and value that exist in the world. We have the Torah of Israel. This is the most valuable historic nation asset on Earth."

MK Shihadeh spoke about the recent legislative initiatives. “The truth is that the destruction of democracy did not begin with the immunity law or the expansion of the number of ministers, or even with the nation-state law," he argued. “It is not the corruption of the prime minister and some of his ministers that poses a danger to democracy and to the future of us all… The real struggle for democracy is somewhere else. He who really fears for democracy should resist the occupation. He must admit that the occupation and rule of another nation contradict every democratic value and every basic humane value, and it is his duty to act to end the occupation and illegal and immoral rule of millions of people who have no rights."

“He who really seeks peace will oppose, together with us, Trump's foolish 'Deal of the Century' plan. He who really fears for democracy should have opposed the law which forbids people to mark Nakba Day, and the family reunification law, and the admissions committees law. He who truly strives for a democratic regime will stand with the Arab citizens against racial discrimination and exclusion. We promise all the citizens to continue the struggle for democracy, the end of the occupation and a just solution to the Palestinian issue, which means, among other things, dismantling all the settlements in the occupied territories, including east Jerusalem."

“Alongside the '67 issue there is the '48 issue, and they are both related," MK Shihadeh said in his speech. “It is impossible to understand the current reality of the Arab population without the Nakba. For us it is not an event of the past, but a life-changing event that continues to affect the daily reality."         

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