The Knesset vote to oust MK (Arab Bloc) Basal Ghattas is on the docket for Tuesday, 21 Kislev. Ghattas reportedly smuggled cell phones and SIM cards to ‘security prisoners’ (terrorists) imprisoned in Ketziot Prison in Israel. When questioned by police, he told them he was unaware there were SIM cards in envelopes he was carrying, stating he thought they contained political material, nothing more.

As a result of this case, the Knesset House Committee convened to discuss the case and heard a Shin Bet recommendation to prohibit MKs from visiting imprisoned ‘security prisoners’. The Shin Bet made the recommendation to Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan. The ban would include visiting Jews imprisoned for security offenses as well as Arabs.

Ghattas continues to call the case against him a political witch hunt.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)