INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Shafaq News/ Israel's Foreign Ministry condemned a new Iraqi law that criminalizes any attempt to normalize relations with it, at a time Tel
Aviv is pushing to expand its ties in the Arab world under the rubric of the Abraham Accords."This is a law that puts Iraq and the Iraqi
people on the wrong side of history and disconnected from reality," Israeli Foreign Minister spokesman Lior Haiat tweeted on Friday."Israel
condemns the decision by the Iraqi parliament to pass legislation against normalization with Israel and that imposes the death penalty on
one who has contact with Israel," he said."This is a law that puts Iraq and the Iraqi people on the wrong side of history and disconnected
from reality," Foreign Minister spokesman Lior Haiat tweeted on Friday."Israel condemns the decision by the Iraqi parliament to pass
legislation against normalization with Israel and that imposes the death penalty on one who has contact with Israel," he said.Iraq's
parliament approved a law on Thursday that bans normalizing relations with Israel, at a time when several Arab countries have established
formal ties.The Iraqi parliament has been unable to convene on any other issue, including electing a new president and forming its own
government, prolonging a political standoff.Iraq has never recognized the state of Israel since its establishment in 1948, and Iraqi
citizens and companies cannot visit Israel, but the new law goes further, specifically criminalizing any attempts to normalize relations
with Israel.The law was proposed by influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr whose party, which opposes close ties with the United States
and Israel, won more seats in parliament in elections last October.The United States lambasted the legislation, saying it fosters "an
environment of antisemitism.""The United States is deeply disturbed by the Iraqi Parliament’s passage of legislation that criminalizes
normalization of relations with Israel," the State Department said in a statement."In addition to jeopardizing freedom of expression and
promoting an environment of antisemitism, this legislation stands in stark contrast to progress Iraq’s neighbors have made by building
bridges and normalizing relations with Israel, creating new opportunities for people throughout the region," it continued.The State
Department also reiterated America's "strong and unwavering support" for Israel, "including as it expands ties with its neighbors in the
pursuit of greater peace and prosperity for all."The leader of the Sadrist movement defended the anti-normalization law approved earlier
this week by the Iraqi parliament, accusing the United States of adopting double standards.In a statement he issued earlier today, al-Sadr
shed light on the US administration's indifference toward desecrating Islamic symbols and opposing Islamic rituals, while condoning
Islamophobic and anti-Islam deeds
"Is this your policy?" al-Sadr rhetorically asked
"We protect Christian and Jewish minorities, while you expel the Arabs and Muslims," he added, "we do not oppose religions
We oppose extremism, terrorism, and injustice."
