THE Israeli parliament has passed a law banning any citizen who has visited an "enemy" country in the previous seven years from standing for election, triggering the anger of Israeli Arab MPs.
Fifty-two members of the 120-seat parliament approved the law at a third and last reading today while 24 MPs voted against it, parliamentary sources said.
The legislation states that anyone who has visited "an enemy country" over the past seven years cannot stand for parliament.
It is aimed particularly at MPs from Arab-led parties, some of whom have travelled to Lebanon and Syria, neighbouring countries officially at war with Israel.
"From now on, any Israeli who visits an enemy country without permission will not be elected to the Knesset for (a period of) seven years," said Zvulon Orlev, an MP from the far-right National Religious Party.
"From now, on Arab MPs must choose if they want to be elected to parliament in Damascus or in Jerusalem," said Mr Orlev, one of the architects of the new law.
Arab Israeli MP Ahmed Tibi said he would appeal to the Supreme Court against the new law, arguing that it did not receive the absolute majority of 61 votes in parliament required of legislation affecting fundamental rights.
Former Arab Israeli MP Azmi Bishara - who had travelled frequently to Syria and Lebanon - quit parliament and fled into exile in 2007 amid accusations he had collaborated with Shiite militant group Hezbollah during the previous year`s war in Lebanon, charges he has consistently denied.
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