Israel bans deputy from election for being on Turkish flotilla

ISTANBUL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C-R) waits to address the opening of the winter session of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on October 15, 2012. The Israeli parliament was in session to vote on a motion to dissolve itself and clear the way for a snap election, likely to be set for January 22. AFP PHOTO/GALI TIBBON

Israel's Central Elections Committee has barred deputy Haneed Zaobi from running for the Knesset for "supporting terrorism" by participating in the 2010 Gaza flotilla, according to the Jerusalem Post.
 
Speaking about Zaobi's presence of the Mavi Marmara flotilla, a high-ranking official said:  "If you don’t think that’s supporting terror, you don’t know what terror is.”
 
The same official also said Zaobi had been "inciting violence" by taking part in the flotilla.
 
Zaobi was also accused of "rejecting Israel as a Jewish state,” which is a crime according to Israeli law.
 
Zaobi, meanwhile, slammed the decision, accusing the committee of undermining the Arab population's rights.
 
The ban passed with 19 in favor, nine opposed and one abstention, according to the daily.