Israeli MP: Gaza blockade to fall soon

Palestinian member of Israeli parliament (Knesset) Hanin Zuabi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=131355&sectionid=351020202

Israel's Palestinian MP who was onboard the attacked Gaza Flotilla vows resistance against Tel Aviv's "scare campaign," saying the blockade of Gaza will soon collapse.

A member of Israeli parliament (Knesset), Hanin Zuaba accompanied the aid convoy which came under a deadly attack by Israeli navy commandos on May 31, and was accused of treason by angry fellow Knesset members upon return to Israel.

"I have already said I would not be deterred by political persecution and the scare campaign launched against me," the lawmaker for Balad party told Ynetnews website on Sunday.

Zuabi said that Tel Aviv's recent decision to ease its years-long closure of the Gaza Strip and allow civilian goods into the impoverished territory "proves that it is not a security blockade, but a political one."

Zoabi described the aid convoy as "the beginning of the blockade's collapse," adding that "the objective of the Flotilla and of the future struggle…is to completely break the blockade."

The Israeli Arab lawmaker said the Flotilla "succeeded in undermining the blockade's legitimacy" by encouraging more aid convoys and forcing Israel to review and consequently change the conditions of the siege.

Despite the harsh criticism from her colleagues in the Knesset and death threats from extremist Israelis, Zuabi said she planned to take part in the next flotillas.

"Israel thinks the whole world ends at its borders…Israel is under siege as far as (global public opinion) is concerned…because Israel is applying its own moral code and does not adhere to the universal code," she stated.