A furore followed the remarks of MK Hanin Zoabi of Balad, who claimed in an interview that the kidnappers of the three boys were not terrorists - and even refused to speak out against the kidnapping.
""They are not terrorists," Zoabi said of the kidnappers of the three boys in an interview for the morning show with Sharon Gal on Radio Tel Aviv. "They are people who see no way to change their reality, and they are forced to use these means until Israel sobers up a little, until the citizens of Israel and society sober up a little and feel the suffering of others," she said.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman wrote on his Facebook page: "Not only are the kidnappers terrorists, Hanin Zoabi is also a terrorist. The punishment for the kidnappers and the punishment for the instigator and abettor of the kidnappings, Zoabi, should be the same.".
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MK Miri Regev said: "She should be deported to Gaza and her immunity should be removed. She is a traitor. Someone who identified with the terrorists on the Mavi Marmara is now identifying with Hamas terrorists who kidnapped our three boys.".
'"I was not surprised to hear her statement," added MK Regev. "How can a traitor like her accuse them? She comes from their milieu. Her place is not with us, but in Gaza. And as I said before: A traitor will always remain a traitor. My soul goes to Gaza, you scoundrel.".
MK Moti Yogev said that Zoabi's statement crosses all boundaries, and he intends to work to have her removed from the Knesset. "From her positions, it seems that she is closer to the terrorists and should be with them, than in the Israeli Knesset.".
MK Mofaz responded on Twitter: "Hanin Zoabi, you've gotten us this far. I didn't plan to address your nonsense, but I can't help myself and must correct you - this is terrorism and you encourage terrorism. You belong in prison.".
""How dare you?""
A conflict also developed in the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women when the committee's chairwoman, MK Aliza Lavie, commented on the remarks of MK Hanin Zoabi.
""How dare you say that the hijackers are not terrorists?" Lavie asked.
MK Hanin responded by shouting: "Insolent. Shut your mouth, you don't deserve to be the chairman of a committee. Are you a police officer? You're a racist.".
""That's not how you talk when innocent children are kidnapped by terrorists," Lavie replied. "You are once again hurting the public you represent, and exploiting the crisis to deepen the rift. I am not a police officer or a racist. At this difficult time, when the entire country is united for the return of our kidnapped sons, it is appropriate that you choose your words carefully. Human rights also belong to our children.".
The coalition's chairman, MK Yariv Levin, turned to the Attorney General and asked him to investigate Zoabi: "Her harsh words amount to wild incitement and encouragement of terrorism and actions of this type. The statements are extremely serious and require immediate steps to be taken. In light of the above, I would like to request your personal action to open an investigation against MK Zoabi and to take the necessary actions to stop the campaign of incitement and support for terrorism led by her.".
Deputy Minister of the Interior and Secretary-General of Yisrael Beiteinu, MK Faina Kirshenbaum, appealed to the Speaker of the Knesset demanding that the process of revoking the immunity of MK Hanin Zoabi be initiated in accordance with the section of the Immunity Law that states that immunity does not apply to an MK for supporting acts of terrorism against the State of Israel and its citizens.
MKs Shimon Ohayon and Orly Levi Aboukis from Yisrael Beiteinu filed a complaint with the Knesset Ethics Committee against Zoabi. "MK Zoabi shames the Israeli Knesset, she encourages further kidnappings of Jews and is unfit to sit in the Israeli Knesset. We demand that the Ethics Committee take appropriate steps in accordance with the Knesset's regulations," they wrote.
MK Eli Yishai called on the Attorney General to immediately open an investigation against her and to file an indictment as soon as possible. "Zoabi's natural place is in the joint parliament of Abu Mazen and Hamas in Gaza, which she represents, absurdly and shamefully, in the Israeli Knesset.".
MK Dr. Ronen Hoffman, a member of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, responded to Zoabi's words: "Hanin Zoabi is not worthy of serving as a member of Knesset in Israel. Zoabi is a living example of how democracy does not always know how to defend itself. The essence of democracy is openness and freedom of expression, but it must also set boundaries. When a member of Knesset in Israel volunteers to serve as a spokesperson for terrorist organizations, she blatantly crosses the boundaries of legitimacy.".
The Jewish Home stated: "Hanin Zoabi persists in representing terrorists in the Knesset, and her provocations harm the public she represents. Zoabi's presence in the Knesset proves that the State of Israel is the most tolerant country in the world toward minorities and supporters of terrorism, probably too much so. Just as we would not see in the United States a representative of Al Qaeda sitting as a member of parliament and inciting the murder of Americans, it is time for the Israeli law enforcement authorities to act in Zoabi's case as well.".
MK Nissan Slominsky, Chairman of the Finance Committee: "Henin Zoabi's natural place is not in the Israeli Knesset - but in the ranks of Hamas. It is a shame and disgrace that a member of the Knesset in Israel endorses, supports, and justifies such despicable activity. I intend to use all means at my disposal, including legislative changes that will not allow public figures in general, and Hanin Zoabi in particular, to remain in their positions after such outrageous incitement.".
The video that excites
This morning (Tuesday), three family members from Nazareth were arrested on suspicion of threatening to harm their 17-year-old relative, Muhammad Zoabi, because he expressed sympathy for the three kidnapped boys. The three, aged 40-60, will be brought to the city's Magistrate's Court today for a hearing on extending their detention.
The three's lawyer, Murad Abu Mafra, said they deny the allegations against them. According to him, "There were no threats, but rather the opposite - they were worried about their relative because of the threats he received.".
In a video that went viral online, the boy from Nazareth addresses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tells him: "To Bibi, our Prime Minister, and to his entire government, I say: Wake up and stop collaborating with terrorists and bandits. The Palestinian Authority is one of the biggest terrorists. The day before yesterday, these boys were kidnapped, and tomorrow it could be me, you, or any other Israeli - Arab or Jewish. I am Israeli and I will remain Israeli. Israel will remain a Jewish and democratic state. The people of Israel live.".
Zoabi said these words in three languages – Arabic, Hebrew, English – and even added: "Terrorists kidnapped our children. Return them, and you better do it now.".
Muhammad Zoabi is a close relative of MK Hanin Zoabi from Balad, who, in response to the video, told Ynet: "I am glad that Israeli propaganda is in such distress that it needs a poor, stupid, identity-distorted, and unconscious child who constantly feels like he must apologize to his powerful masters.".
