Israeli court convicts ex-Arab MK of fraud

Arab- Israeli Basel Ghattas, a former member of the Israeli Knesset, was yesterday convicted “of fraud, breach of trust, providing means to commit an act of terrorism, smuggling electronic contraband and breaking prison ordnances”, Israeli media reported.

Ynet News stated that the Israeli Magistrate Court of Beersheba sentenced Ghattas after a plea bargain was agreed with the former minister’s lawyer Avigdor Feldman. The Israeli news website noted that the original indictment included “more serious charges”.

Meanwhile, it reported the prosecution saying during the hearing: “The plea bargain is correct, appropriate and reasonable both in terms of the offense and the punishment.”

Read: After ‘fierce information war,’ Israeli court indicts Arab MK

During the hearing, Ghattas also said: “I want to say we took the plea with heavy hearts. From the first moment, I said I did not do this with the intent or thought to hurt another person or aid a terror organisation.”

He stressed, according to Ynet News, that he was not against “a system seeking justice, but rather one trying to destroy me.”

On Sunday, Ghattas filed his resignation from the Knesset as part of the bargain and he accepted a two year prison term.