Israeli Arab Knesset Members Meet with Terrorists’ Families

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused three Arab Knesset members of “building walls of hatred” rather than helping Arabs integrate more fully into Israeli society.

MKs Haneen Zoabi, Jamal Zalka and Basel Ghattas, members of the Balad Party, recently met with families of 10 Arab terrorists killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis. The three MKs reportedly joined in a moment of silence honoring the terrorists as shahids (martyrs), the Palestinian Authority official Ma’an news agency reported.

The MKs said they were working with the families to lobby Israel to return the bodies for burial. Terrorists’ funerals often turn into massive anti-Israeli demonstrations. Israel agreed to return the bodies with the stipulation that the funerals be held at night and attendance limited to family members.

At the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said most Israelis see these Knesset members as promoting “hatred” rather than working toward peaceful coexistence.

“We are making great efforts and great investments in order to integrate Arab citizens in Israel society and they are doing the complete opposite. They are building walls of hatred,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister asked Attorney General Amichai Rosenblitt to look into legal action that would prevent people who act in this way from serving in the Knesset.

“I also plan to ask for a review of tougher legislative changes that would allow us to make sure that individuals who pursue this course of action won't be in the Knesset,” Netanyahu said. “I think this will be an important statement as to the kind of society we want to see in Israel.”

Netanyahu said he and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein were preparing to file personal complaints with the Knesset Ethics Committee.

Members of the Balad Party have been problematic in the past. Former party chairman Azmi Bishara is in self-imposed exile after allegedly passing strategic information to Hezbollah terrorists during the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006. 

Haneen Zoabi recently accepted a plea bargain to avoid charges of incitement after accusing Arab Israeli police officers of being traitors sent to eavesdrop on their own people.

In May 2010, Zoabi sailed with pro-Palestinian activists aboard the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish owned flagship attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Nine activists were killed when Israeli naval commandoes resorted to live ammunition to defend themselves against the attackers.