PMW Bulletin
Feb. 11, 2016
Arab member of Israeli Parliament justifies
murder of Israelis by terrorists:
"[The Martyrs acted] in the turmoil of the struggle
against the oppressive occupation
- they did not go to kill for criminal reasons"
Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
p:+972 2 625 4140 e: pmw@palwatch.org
f: +972 2 624 2803 w: www.palwatch.org
Basel Ghattas, an Arab member of the Israeli Parliament, has justified the
murder of Israelis by Palestinian terrorists. Ghattas was suspended this
week for four months from activities in the Israeli Parliament, following
Palestinian Media Watch's exposure of his and two other Arab MPs' meeting
with families of terrorist murderers. The MPs had observed a minute of
silence in honor of the terrorists and referred to them by the term of
highest honor in Islam, "Shahids" (Martyrs).
Now MP Ghattas has clarified his position justifying Palestinian murder of
Israelis in a TV interview, saying that Palestinians who kill Israelis are
neither "criminal" nor doing anything "illegal" but are acting "in the
turmoil of the struggle against the oppressive occupation":
Israeli Arab MP Basel Ghattas: "The day Arab MPs abstain from visiting
Martyrs' (Shahids) families who have lost their precious sons in the turmoil
of the struggle against the oppressive occupation - they did not go to kill
or attempt to kill for criminal reasons or illegally - the day we abstain
from visiting Martyrs' families, we will have to vacate our [parliamentary]
chairs and leave the keys at home."
[Hala TV, Panet website, Feb. 10 and 11, 2016]
Israeli Arab MP Ghattas' position is similar to that of the Palestinian
Authority which claims that murder and terror attacks against Israeli
civilians is part of a "legitimate Palestinian struggle."
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