Arab MK involved in security case faces impeachment proceedings

The Knesset House Committee plans to begin impeachment proceedings against Joint Arab List MK Basel Ghattas, after 72 lawmakers, including 10 opposition MKs, joined a motion by Environmental Protection Minister Zeev Elkin (Likud) calling for removing him from the Knesset.

Sources familiar with the issue told Israel Hayom Monday that the impeachment proceedings are expected to begin within two weeks.

Ghattas was indicted two weeks ago for breach of trust, aggravated fraud, and using property to abet terror, over his alleged smuggling of cellular phones and other materials to Palestinian security prisoners.

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announced Monday that his faction would support removing Ghattas from the Knesset.

The Zionist Union also said it supports removing him, and on Monday asked the Joint Arab List to push Ghattas to resign so as to avoid impeachment proceedings.

A Zionist Union source said that while the faction does not agree with the law allowing the Knesset to dismiss an elected official, in this case, unless Ghattas resigns of his own accord, the faction will allow its MKs to vote freely if his impeachment is presented to the plenum.

"I'm glad we passed the Impeachment Law, despite the opposition it garnered. Cases like MK Ghattas' are proof that we needed this law, so he doesn't continue sitting in the Knesset until his trial ends," House Committee Chairman MK Yoav Kisch (Likud) said.

Under the law, Ghattas will be able to have an attorney present throughout the impeachment proceedings, which will be attended by committee members and Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit.

If the committee votes in favor of impeachment, the measure would then go to the Knesset for a vote, where it would have to secure a 90-MK majority (out of 120) for Ghattas to be dismissed.

Meanwhile, the Israel Police on Monday questioned a Balad MK under caution on suspicion of forgery, fraudulently obtaining benefits, falsifying records and money laundering.

Balad is one of the three parties, alongside Ra'am-Ta'al and Hadash, that make up the Joint Arab List faction.

The investigation against the MK, whose name has been placed under embargo, centers on offenses in the financing of Balad operations, as presented to the State Comptroller's Office.

Mendelblit had authorized the police to investigate the matter prior to the MK's questioning.

The investigation is handled by the Lahav 433 Major Crimes Unit, the Financial Crimes Department at the State Attorney's Office, and the Israel Money Laundering Prohibition Authority.

The case was revealed in September, when 20 Balad party officials were arrested on suspicion of campaign financing violations and money laundering to the tune of millions of shekels.

A statement by the MK questioned Monday slammed the investigation as "political persecution" and an attempt to "sabotage Balad's operations" with the aim of tarnishing the party's image.

"The puzzling timing of this questioning, after the investigation is over, further reflects the police's unacceptable behavior in this case, in an attempt to influence the legal proceedings and create hostility. This attempt will fail, as will this political persecution," the statement said.

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