The Knesset Interior Committee on Wednesday, 21 Kislev, voted to strip Arab MK Basel Ghattas of his parliamentary immunity.

Ghattas did not attend the hearing, insisting the decision was made before the session convened. Rather than address the damaging evidence against him, the Arab lawmaker prefers to announce the case against him is nothing more than a witch hunt.

Following the decision of the committee, the matter is on the Knesset agenda for a vote on Thursday, 22 Kislev. If passed in Knesset, it will clear the way for police to charge him with a crime following the investigation against him, alleging he smuggled cellular phones and components to security prisoners in Ketziot Prison. The investigation against him was authorized by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in light of the evidence against Ghattas.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)