CBNNews.com - PARIS - Israeli Arab Member of Knesset Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List - Ta'al), who attended the Union of the Mediterranean conference, said Syria's president shook his hand.

"[Syrian President Bashar] Assad boycotted [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert, but he shook the hand of Ahmed Tibi in Paris," he told YNet news.

Three months ago, Tibi registered at a conference in Qatar as a representative of the Palestinian Authority (PA). But at the Paris conference, he registered as an independent.

"I am here with writers, parliament members from other countries, and intellectuals who have not been invited as part of a delegation," Tibi said, pointing to his badge.

"I am sick and tired of people saying I am a member of delegations. I am not a member of the Palestinian delegation," he said.

The diminutive Arab MK said he'd met with many people at the conference.

"I met with the Palestinian delegation. I met with the Lebanese. I met with the Qatari representatives. I met with Gordon Brown of Britain, with Miguel Moratinos of Spain, with Mark Ott of the European Union," Tibi said.

"I'm meeting with Palestinians tonight. I will meet with them tomorrow as well, and I will continue to meet with them," he said.

A senior member of the Israeli delegation said Tibi should decide who he represents.

"It is unthinkable that an Israeli Knesset member appears here and walks around with the Palestinian delegation and other Arab delegations," he said. "He should decide who he is representing," he said.

Tibi said he attended the summit as an independent and as chairman of his party, the United Arab List-Ta'al.

Source: YNet news