Israeli Knesset member Ahmed Tibi not only caused waves for accompanying Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the plane to New York, but has also been invited to speak before students at the Columbia University, the same campus where Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been invited for dinner. It is unclear whether the two will meet or even shake hands. Ahmadinejad was invited by the university's dean to dine with students this week. The invitation has been the source of harsh condemnation, and some groups demand the university retract the invitation. In 2007 Ahmadinejad's visit to the university caused an uproar. Tibi who denied at first accompanying Abbas on the plane, later posted photos of himself with the Palestinian leader on his Facebook page. He denied being part of the Palestinian delegation but said he had been offered to fly with Abbas. The photos showed the two sitting next to each other on the plane discussing documents. Tibi was invited by the American Palestinian Congress to speak at Columbia University. Tibi's spokesman said while he is not an official member of the Palestinian delegation he intends to express his active support for the Palestinian statehood bid at every opportunity. Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin slammed Tibi saying its inconceivable that a Knesset member join a delegation that seeks to harm Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.
