Chairman of the Knesset House Committee MK (Likud) David Bitan labeled Arab Members of Knesset who visited with families of terrorists “cowards” for not appearing at the committee meeting to discuss their actions and the possible legal and ethical ramifications. He added their party is extremist and receives funding from traitorous former MK Azmi Bishara.

Bishara, a former leader of the Balad party, fled Israel as it was discovered he was providing Hizbullah information during the Second Lebanon War. While he and his supporters insist he is innocent, he has yet to return to face charges and prove his innocence in a court of law.

Bitan feels the Knesset must address the actions of MKs who meet with families of terrorists and observe a minute of silence in their memory.

Also attending the committee session was Roz Nazari, assistant to the Attorney General. He said “from a public perspective, every citizen should be opposed to terror, but from a legal and judicial standpoint, not everything that is disqualified in the public arena is a criminal offense. In the criminal sphere, the Attorney General received a number of inquiries from MKs seeking to determine if they committed a criminal offense. We have asked police to gather information towards reaching a decision including the content of the meeting. Hard facts are required for in accordance to the law, as it must be proven that their actions could lead to violence or terrorism. The law passed by the Knesset Law Committee has been discussed in recent days pertaining to sections that would address the new terror law. The law has its checks and balances not because the legislature gave authority to the Ethics Committee and the House Committee but to enable reaching decisions in the public sphere as well as the criminal sphere”.

Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee (Likud) Tzachi Hanegbi feels new laws must be legislated, but he warns against dictating to the Attorney General and the legal experts. He lamented the fact the Ethics Committee is ineffective for its punishments are “pathetic”, adding the opposition has already been broached to support a bill that would empower the Knesset to oust anyone who acts inappropriately by a vote of 90 or more.

Before adjourning, the House Committee called on the cabinet to refrain from handing over the bodies of slain terrorists to their families for burial in addition to turning to the Ethics Committee to levy the most stringent punishment possible against the Arab MKs who participated in the event with the families of terrorists; Hanin Zoabi, Dr. Ahmed Tibi, Basel Ghattas, and Jamal Zahalka.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)