13 Sep 2010
Alkarama hosted Israeli-Arab Member of the Knesset, Ms Haneen Zoabi, in Geneva last week (7-8 September), during her visit to Europe. Haneen Zoabi is the only woman elected as a member of an Arab party to the Knesset and participated in the Gaza Flotilla in May 2010.Ms Zoabi was in Geneva to speak about human rights violations in the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the killing by Israeli Special Forces of 9 human rights activists on the Mavi Marmara, the lead ship in the Gaza Flotilla on which Ms Zoabi was present. Alkarama was particularly interested to hear her account of the attack, as it had submitted these 9 cases to the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions. This is an interview which Ms Zoabi gave to Alkarama (in Arabic).
During her time in Geneva, Ms Zoabi met with international organisations, diplomats and various media, and held a well-attended press conference. Ms Zoabi spoke about her participation in the Gaza Flotilla, the backlash she had personally faced from fellow Knesset members because of her participation, and the general context of human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel.
Background
Born in Nazareth, Ms Zoabi holds a Masters of Arts in communications from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is a Palestinian Arab, and is also an Arab citizen of Israel. Ms Zoabi is a member of the Knesset representing the Balad (National Democratic Assembly) party. In May 2010 Ms Zoabi participated in the Gaza Flotilla, which aimed to provide relief assistance to the population of Gaza.
In response, Ms Zoabi's fellow Knesset members voted to remove several of her parliamentary privileges. These include: denying her the right to hold a diplomatic passport; her right to subsidized legal counsel in the event of criminal proceedings against her over her participation in the flotilla, or for any related future offenses; and any extra privileges she could enjoy as a member of the Knesset travelling overseas.
Alkarama looks forward to working in partnership with Ms Zoabi and other human rights defenders regarding human rights violations in the region.
For further information:
1. Press release regarding Alkarama's actions for the 9 human rights activists killed by Israeli soldiers;
2. Le Temps article of interview given by Ms Zoabi (in French);
3. Le Courrier article (in French);
4. National Swiss Radio ( in French) : (see Journal de 7h, at 10.07 minutes into the news)
5. World Radio Switzerland (in English)