Rivlin denies Arab MK entry to official event

President Reuven Rivlin refuses to allow Arab MK Jamal Zahalka entry to his official residence in Jerusalem, apparently due to the latter’s February 2 meeting with the families of Palestinian terrorists.

Zahalka, who leads the Balad party, one of the three that make up the Joint (Arab) List faction, had been invited along with other party leaders to the meeting today with the heads of Arab regional and local authorities in Israel. But the invitation was issued before Zahalka and fellow Balad lawmakers Hanin Zoabi and Basel Ghattas met with the relatives of Palestinians killed during attacks or attempted attacks on Israelis.

Channel 2 says that Zahalka never RSVPed to the invitation last month, and when he tried to do so two hours before today’s event, he was declined on the grounds that the president did not wish to offend Israeli citizens.