Israeli Arab Knesset Member Muhammed Barakeh responded with bitterness Sunday to the announcements of government ceremonies and celebrations scheduled to mark the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Israel’s capital, Jerusalem.

MK Barakeh, Chairman of the Hadash party, called a plan to hold a government meeting next to the walls of the Old City as part of the celebrations a “provocation” and claimed “There is no peace without two capitals in Jerusalem.” The remark was a reference to a demand by the Palestinian Authority to hand over Jerusalem to be used as a capital for a new Arab state.

“We hope there will be a Palestinian government meeting in east Jerusalem next year,” declared Barakeh. He added his hope that the security barrier under construction to protect area residents from PA terrorists “will crumble along with the occupation.”