Sadr said in a tweet on Saturday, April 23, that the issue of normalizing relations with Israel was “one of the main reasons” that prompted him to have his movement run in the elections again.

He further said the Sadrist Movement and allies would soon unveil a proposal to be put for vote in parliament to criminalize normalization and dealings with Israel.

Iraq has been technically at war with Israel since the latter’s foundation, and has for decades been one of the Arab world’s most enthusiastic supporters of the Palestinian cause. Iraq’s former regime led by Saddam Hussein shot Scud missiles at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War.

The Iraqi Penal Code punishes with death anyone who promotes “Zionist principles” or becomes a member in any institution that promotes its idea.

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