After facing hours of questioning on Sunday over an illegal trip to Syria, MK Said Nafa (Balad) told reporters that he was not willing to promise that he would not visit Syria again. Syria is defined as an enemy nation, and Israelis must receive special permission to travel to Syria.
Nafa explained that despite the fact that Israel defines Syria as an enemy state, he does not see it as such. “I am the son of a Syrian mother...how can it be that her aunts and uncles are my enemies?” he asked. “Can it be that sons of the same nation are each others’ enemies?” Nafa accused Israel of discrimination, saying that Druze Israelis are not allowed to visit their holy sites in Syria, while Muslim Israelis are allowed to visit Mecca.