DHAKA: Israel’s parliament member Haneen Zoabi defended her assertion that those who abducted three Israeli teens last week are not terrorists, saying Wednesday that kidnapping is a legitimate form of resistance and only killing people is terror.

‘I don’t agree with the kidnapping, but I can’t say it was an act of terror,’ Zoabi said in an Army Radio interview, reports The Jerusalem Post.

The Balad MK caused an uproar on Tuesday when she said in a Radio Tel Aviv interview that the kidnappers were not terrorists. Her statements led several MKs to call for her ouster from the Knesset on grounds that she was inciting to violence.

On Wednesday, Zoabi refused to apologize, contending that people who have no choice are justified in resorting to acts such as kidnapping.

‘There will be more kidnapping if you don’t remove the context of occupation,’ she stated, adding that ‘settlements are a war crime’.

She said prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s actions in the aftermath of the kidnapping had actually served to reduce the likelihood of the boys being released. She claimed that her own ‘struggle’ would help the abducted boys.

‘I would free the boys and all the Palestinian prisoners,’ Zoabi stated.

‘I have no contact with Hamas, but Netanyahu does.’

Zoabi said she was in hiding after her cell phone number was publicized on social media and she received threats.

BDST: 1518 HRS, JUNE 18, 2014