Environmental Protection Minister Zeev Elkin called to implement a new law this morning in order to put an end to the “habit of serving lawmakers to openly support terror.”
After the Israel Prison Services discovered a dozen phones that they suspect Israeli Arab MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List) had smuggled into the Keziot prison for Palestinian prisoners held on security-related offences, Elkin said that, following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s request, he would strive to implement a recently passed law which allows members of the Knesset to oust fellow MKs if they support incitement and a violent, armed struggle against the nation of Israel.
“As the criminal investigation will take some time to come to a conclusion,” Elkin said, “there is no reason [Ghattas] will continue to serve in the Knesset in the meantime, receive a paycheck from the Israeli public and enjoy his immunity to support terrorism.”
In the interim period, the Knesset will host a special meeting to discuss the rights that MKs will enjoy when visiting inmates. Additionally, the Knesset will look at the option of preventing Ghattas from leaving the country throughout the duration of the ongoing investigation.
“Whoever harms national security must be severely punished and cannot be allowed to serve in the Knesset,” Netanyahu said.
