Israeli parliament on Monday approved a bill forbidding any Israeli citizen who has paid "improper" visits to an "enemy territory" within the previous seven years from running for the legislature, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
According to the amendment to the basic law, visitors to an "enemy country" without a proper permit will be deemed as "supporters of the armed struggle against Israel, so long as they have not been proven otherwise," and thus will not be eligible for parliamentary candidacy, said the report.
It added that the stipulation, passed by a 52-25 vote in the 120-seat parliament, is only applicable to those who has paid such a visit within seven years prior to the formal run for the Knesset, Israel's parliament.
The report did not specify what the "enemy territory" refers to,but other reports said it includes Iran, Lebanon and Syria among others.
The bill was proposed jointly by Zevulun Orlev, chief of National Religious Party, and Esterina Tartman, lawmaker from the hardline Yisrael Beitenu party, after former Arab lawmaker Azmi Bishara was suspected of treason over allegations that he provided advice for Hezbollah militants during the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese group.
"We must demand unmitigated loyalty to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state from the Arab leaders," said Orlev following the approval.
However, Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi said that "the law was not approved by a majority of at least 61 Knesset members and is therefore unconstitutional, and will be rejected by the High Court of Justice for violating the principle of equality."
Source:Xinhua
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