Israeli Knesset dismisses Arab MK after he criticises killing Palestinians

The Israeli Knesset has thrown Arab MK Jamal Zahalka out and prevented him from taking part in meetings for a month after he described a former Israeli intelligence official as a killer of Palestinian children.

The Times of Israel reported that Zahalka was suspended for calling former Shin Bet head and Likud MK Avi Dichter a “murderer” during a debate on deducting money from the taxes Israel collects on behalf of the PA in order to push the latter not to pay the salaries of families of Palestinian prisoners.

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Israeli TV Channel 7 said that Dichter replied: “After the traitor Azmi Bshara, who escaped to Qatar, and the terrorist MK Basel Ghattas, who was imprisoned, now it is Jamal Zahalka’s turn.”

The Knesset Ethics Committee handed over the suspension to the Arab MK, which stipulates that he will be banned from the committee and plenum debates but will retain his right to vote.

Remarks made by Dischter proved that the suspension was racist: “These people [Arabs in Israel] have no place in the Knesset.”