Israeli Arab is Avigdor Lieberman’s ‘biggest fan’
Bedouin resident of Ashkelon says right wing Israeli FM's stance on Arabs is misinterpreted
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has attracted his share of opprobrium, yet it seems the right-wing nationalist statesman has found support in the most unlikely of corners.
According to the Maariv newspaper, a Bedouin resident of Ashkelon, who describes himself as Lieberman’s biggest fan, believes that the Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman is the only hope for peace in the region.
Sami Abu Ghnam, 54, has decorated the walls of his Ashkelon home with countless posters of the Moldovan-born minister’s robust countenance.
He says Lieberman’s stance on Arabs is subject to misinterpretation. “It is not true that he is against my community,” Maariv quoted Abu Ghnam as saying. “Lieberman is simply pro-Israel. What is he asking? Loyalty from the state’s citizens. Is this too much to ask? No.”
Abu Ghnam served in IDF in the 1980s and the two eldest of his nine children serve in select combat units. He hopes to run for Knesset, as part of Yisrael Beiteinu.
Abu Ghnam added that the Arab MKs do not represent him and unnecessarily incite nationalism among Israeli Arabs. “Deep inside, the Israeli Arabs have grown sick of politicians,” he said. “They know that only Lieberman is a true politician, not a hypocrite.”