Committee Recommends Rescinding Ghattas' Immunity; Knesset to Vote Tomorrow

Jerusalem, 21 December, 2016 (TPS) -- The Knesset Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to rescind the parliamentary immunity of MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List), clearing the way for a vote in the Knesset Plenum and the eventual arrest and prosecution of Ghattas on charges that he passed forbidden materials to Palestinian security prisoners at Ketziot Prison on Sunday.

The Knesset will debate and vote on the issue Thursday.

MK Yoav Kish, chairman of the Knesset Committee, opened the Committee hearing saying that Ghattas’ alleged crime was first and foremost a blow for the Arab minority in Israel. Earlier in the day, Ghattas said he would not attend the session, calling a request by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to rescind Ghattas’ parliamentary immunity a “political trap with pre-determined results.” Since the scandal broke on Sunday, Ghattas has dismissed the investigation as a “political witch hunt” and attacked police and law enforcement officials for “trampling” his rights and preventing a fair process of investigation by releasing details of the investigation to the media.

Ghattas was detained by police Sunday as he exited Ketziot Prison following a visit with Palestinian security prisoners. Prison officials say they filmed the MK passing 12 cell phones, 16 SIM cards, two phone chargers, a pair of headphones and written materials to prisoners, in violation of visitation regulations. Police believe Ghattas took advantage of his parliamentary immunity to smuggle the materials into the prison by hiding them in his jacket.

Ghattas initially denied the allegations, but reportedly admitted passing envelopes to prisoners when presented with video evidence. However, he stressed that that admission does not indicate that he has given up any of his rights as a member of the Knesset.

The allegations against Ghattas have triggered a significant split amongst Knesset members on the proper way to proceed. Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and Environmental Protection Ze’ev Elkin moved quickly to oust Ghattas from the Knesset under the provisions of the controversial Impeachment Law, voted into law last July but strongly opposed by some legal experts and members of the parliamentary opposition. In addition, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman sharply criticized Ghattas and the Joint List, coining the party a”List of Spies and Traitors” and vowing to work towards removing the party from the Knesset and rescinding party members’ Israeli citizenship.

Joint List Chairman and leader of the party’s Hadash faction MK Ayman Odeh stated: “The public accusations made against MK Basel Gatthas in the media are extremely serious and therefore should be clarified in through an investigation instead of a field trial of Knesset members.”

Knesset Legal Advisor Eyal Yinon stressed that Ghattas will continue to serve as a member of the Knesset, including participating in plenum votes. Yinon noted that Ghattas is “far from the only MK in Israeli history to be investigated,” and added that Ghattas will continue to receive his Knesset salary.