Rivlin on Ghattas: Israel can protect itself against plotters of evil
President says if allegations of security breaches against Arab MK are true, it shows a ‘cynical abuse’ of parliamentary privileges
President Reuven Rivlin said on Monday that if allegations that Balad MK Basel Ghattas smuggled phones to inmates in Israeli prison are proven true, he should be stripped of parliamentary immunity and punished severely.
“Cynical abuse of the freedoms given to Knesset members with the intent to destroy Israel’s security is shameful,” Rivlin said, in a speech at the Israel Democracy Institute, referring to Ghattas. “Israeli democracy knows how to protect itself against those who plot evil.”
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has authorized police to question Ghattas under caution for alleged security breaches. The MK is suspected of smuggling cell phones to the prisoners at Ketziot Prison, south of Beersheba in southern Israel.
Police told Channel 2 that they believe Ghattas may have also, on at least one occasion, smuggled in SIM cards for the prisoners, hidden in a hollowed-out book.
One of the prisoners that Ghattas is alleged to have met with is Walid Daka, who was sentenced to 37 years for the 1984 abduction and murder of 19-year-old IDF soldier Moshe Tamam.
Tamam’s mother, Gila, said on Monday that “any lawmaker who helps those who killed my son has blood on his hands.” She said that nobody can bring her son back, but all efforts must be made to prevent further terror attacks.
Meretz party head Zehava Galon called on Ghattas to resign, branding his alleged crimes “extremely severe.” She compared the Arab MK to Jewish Home MK Nissan Slomiansky, suspected of sexual offenses, who announced on Sunday that he has suspended himself from the chairmanship of the Knesset Law, Justice and Constitution Committee.
“Just like Slomiansky, [Ghattas] should go home,” Galon said. “However, while the public demand for an MK to resign is legitimate, in these two cases the use of the impeachment law is wrong.”
The Balad Party is part of the Knesset’s Joint (Arab) List and has three of the Joint List’s 13 seats.
The Knesset House Committee, which decides on the immunity of Knesset members and requests for lifting it, will meet Monday morning to discuss the allegations against Ghattas.
According to Hebrew media reports, the two members of the Joint (Arab) List who are on the House Committee will not attend the meeting. MKs Ahmad Tibi and Abdullah Abu Maaruf are part of the 16-member committee.
