Tel Aviv – Israel’s Attorney General has approved the indictment of an Arab-Israeli lawmaker for smuggling mobile phones to Palestinian prisoners, a Justice Ministry statement said on Thursday.
Basel Ghattas, a member of the Joint List of Arab parties, is facing charges including breach of trust by a public servant and use of property “for terrorist purposes,’’ according to the statement.
The indictment tied Ghattas to Walid Daka, who is serving a life sentence for the killing of an Israeli soldier, and Basel Bizra, an imprisoned member of the ruling Palestinian Fatah party.
On Dec. 18, Ghattas met with prisoners at Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert and handed over documents and several packages that he had hidden under his shirt, the indictment said.
Guards searched the prisoner after the meeting and found 12 mobile phones, 16 SIM cards, two chargers and an earpiece, it added.
Ghattas is expected to appear in court where he will be given a chance to respond to the charges before the indictment is officially filed, the Times of Israel reported.
He was questioned and placed under house arrest after waiving his parliamentary immunity last month, according to local media.
The Knesset’s Ethics Committee decided earlier this week to suspend Ghattas from all activities for six months, though he maintained his right to vote and will continue drawing salary, Israel Radio said.
In February, Ghattas was suspended from Israel’s parliament for several months for meeting with the families of Palestinian attackers killed while carrying out knife attacks.