Indictment expected against Arab-Israeli lawmaker for aiding terrorists

An indictment was authorized against an Arab-Israeli lawmaker suspected aiding imprisoned terrorists. 

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has authorized an indictment to be filed against Arab-Israeli Member of Knesset Basel Ghattas, a member of the Joint Arab List’s Balad faction suspected of transferring phones and SIM cards to prison inmates for terror-related activities.

After Ghattas waived his parliamentary immunity on December 22, Mandelblit revealed that police had surveillance showing the MK at Ketziot Prison, located just south of Beersheba, transferring envelopes to inmates. Twelve cellphones and 16 SIM cards were discovered in the envelopes.

An indictment had already been filed by the Beersheba District Attorney’s Office against Assad Daka, brother of inmate Walid Daka, who is serving a 37-year term for murdering IDF soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984. It accuses Assad of conspiring with Ghattas to transfer the phones and SIM cards to prison inmates, including Walid Daka.

The indictment against Ghattas could be filed as soon as this week.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News