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Iraqi officials deny visiting Israel

December 30, 2017 at 11:21 am

Israeli settlers march with Israeli flags in East Jerusalem [Ma’an News]

Claims that 20 Iraqi officials have secretly visited Israel over the years have been denied, Al-Quds.co.uk has reported. The claims were made by an Israeli academic who told Russia Today that Arabs are “running” to normalise relations with the Zionist state.

It is claimed that Mithal Al-Alousi and Ahmed Al-Jalabi visited Israel in 2007; Mish’an Lajbouri went there in 2009; Hanan Al-Fatlawi in 2010; and Hussein Al-Shahrastani in 2011. “This,” said the academic in question, “is Iraqi hypocrisy.” The exact name of the academic could not be verified. Iraq has denied that any of its officials have ever visited Israel.

According to Atheel Al-Nujaifai, who is alleged to have visited Israel in 2008, the claim is baseless:

It is possible that such a report means nothing to those who accept normalisation with Israel, but for me, a son of Iraq and the son of Mosul, who has a love of Palestine and Jerusalem and was brought up on religious, national and patriotic beliefs, I cannot accept it.

 

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The former governor of Ninawa Province in northern Iraq insisted that people like him cannot forget Palestine and Jerusalem despite the disasters they have experienced, saying:

Israel is the reason for all the crises in the region and rapprochement with it is treason for the country, religion and society

“Without doubt, I hope to visit the cities of Palestine and enjoy seeing our Jerusalem and praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque, but I feel it is shameful to show any support for those who violate our sanctuaries and displace our people in Palestine”, he added.

Read: Jerusalem is a ‘side issue,’ says Bahrain Foreign Minister