Arab MK implicated in security offenses to serve 2 years in jail

Joint Arab List MK Basel Ghattas, indicted for allegedly smuggling cellphones and other materials to Palestinian security prisoners, will plead guilty and serve two years in prison as part of a plea bargain he signed with the State Attorney's Office on Thursday.

As part of the deal, Ghattas is required to resign his Knesset seat immediately. The court is also expected to add probation to his sentence, although it is unclear at this time what probation recommendation the state will make.

The amended indictment against Ghattas will be presented to the Beersheba District Court next week. It includes charges of smuggling cellular phones into prison, violating Israel Prison Service directives, providing the means to carry out acts of terror, fraud and breach of trust by a public official.

The amended indictment excludes the original charge of aiding and abetting a terrorist organization.

The state plans to ask the court to attribute moral turpitude to the Arab MK's offenses. Under Israeli law, a conviction carrying moral turpitude bars the individual in question from serving in public office for seven years.

On Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Affairs Raz Nizri briefed the Knesset House Committee, scheduled to debate Ghattas' impeachment from parliament next week, on the details of the plea deal.

Nizri explained that Ghattas would have to resign the Knesset, plead guilty, serve a prison sentence that will include probation once he is released, and pay a fine.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel urged State Attorney Shai Nitzan to deny the plea bargain.

"Reaching a plea bargain in this case does not serve public interest. The legal proceedings in cases involving elected officials must be exhausted in a court of law," the group wrote in a letter sent to Nitzan Thursday.

"The Movement for Quality Government calls on the state attorney to quash this deal and allow for public legal proceedings where the nature of MK Ghattas' actions could be exposed in full, as he allegedly abused his office. This evidence must be presented in court and to the public."

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan took to social media to criticize the deal the State Attorney's Office had reached with the Joint Arab List lawmaker.

"I have trouble understanding why the State Attorney's Office would suffice with two years in prison for Ghattas for aiding terrorism, when they have such solid evidence. I hope the court will opt for a far graver sentence," he tweeted.

Yisrael Beytenu MK Robert Ilatov slammed what he called a "very light sentence that will severely undermine deterrence and encourage such nefarious acts in the future."

Likud MK Yoav Kisch said Ghattas "belongs in jail, not the Knesset. I have no doubt the Impeachment Law and the initiative to impeach Ghattas prompted his resignation, and most importantly -- we will soon be rid of him and the Knesset will no longer have to bear this shame."

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