MK Naffaa's immunity removed

The Knesset House Committee on Tuesday discussed Balad MK Said Naffaa's request for parliamentary immunity from the indictment filed against him, and decided, with a majorty of nine MKs, to reject his request. Only two MKs objected to removing Naffaa's immunity. 

The discussion came following Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's decision to charge Naffaa with contacting a foreign agent and visiting an enemy state after he travelled to Syria in 2007 and met with the deputy director-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

After the decision was announced, Naffaa said, "I am not at all surprised, this was expected. The session was to the point, it is important that the matters I am accused of were raised they way there were, I will fight for my innocence in court."

He added, "I did not plan to harm the State's security; I did not harm the State's security. There is a long court proceeding before me. I will fight for my innocence and the matter of immunity will be discussed there as well."  

Demanding equality. Naffaa at committee meeting (Photo: Gil Yohanan) 

Now, in order to fight for his immunity, the MK can appeal to the High Court of Justice, or raise the issue as part of his preliminary pleas at the start of his trial.

"I do not regret the trip and I am no hypocrite," the MK said. Naffaa added that Tuesday's session was both interesting and important. "The issue I am forced to pay the price for was discussed here for many hours, and very much promoted the interests and rights."

'Political persecution'

Following the decision, MK Anastassia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu) said she plans to initiate a bill stating that anyone found guilty of such a violation would have their citizenship immediately revoked and be sent back to live in the enemy state. "Maybe then they would think twice," she said.  

MK Ilan Ghilon (Meretz) and MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List – Ta'al) voted in favor of allowing Naffaa to keep his immunity. After the decision was announced, Ghilon said, "I would like to see (Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu travel in a bus or minibus to Damascus, then no one would complain of a violation of the State's security."

MK Afu Aghbaria (Hadash), who is not a member of the committee, asked to speak and claimed that the decision was part of the persecution of the Arab sector: "Did he have to organize an espionage trip with 280 people?" Aghbaria asked.

Naffaa's fellow party members Jamal Zahalka and Hanin Zoabi also claimed this was a matter of political persecution. Addressing Mazuz, Zoabi said, "You should be more sensitive with regards to the immunity of Arab MKs, because, as you can see, the entire dialogue here is centered on the matter of loyalty.

"When you remove immunity from the moves that actually set us apart from the Jewish MKs, you are in fact disqualifying our activity."

'Establishment views Druze as herd'

Before the decision was made, Naffaa, who is Druze, addressed the committee members and said that the charges brought against him were of a political nature. "Today I am addressing a taboo, the establishment considers the Druze a trained herd whose place is to serve in the military and the Border Guard - a herd that has no feelings," he said.

The visit in question took place in September 2007, when Naffaa accompanied a delegation of 280 Druze clerics to Syria, despite the fact that the Interior Ministry did not approve his departure. 

During the visit, the indictment says, Naffaa secretly met with Talal Naji, the deputy director-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is considered a terrorist organization.

Mazuz (L) and Naffaa (R) on Tuesday (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

'Charges directed at all Druze'

Naffaa told the committee that he does not wish to hide behind immunity, but claimed that the charges brought against him were actually directed at the entire Druze community.

"If the indictment was only about contact with a foreign agent, I would go to court and prove my innocence. Since 2000, thousands have left the country to Syria, but only two indictments have been filed, including one against former MK Azmi Bishara," he said. 

"I know that I am walking into a minefield, but don't the Druze have this right? Did I meet with enemies of Israel during my visits while the others met with lovers of Zion and Righteous Gentiles?" he wondered.

MK Tibi: 'What about Misezhnikov and Iranian?' (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

The Balad MK denied the charges brought against him in the indictment, which he said is based on the testimony of Nihad Maham, Naffaa's comrade who accompanied him in Syria. Naffaa said, "Assuming that the meetings did take place based on the witness' words, these are political meetings that had no direct or indirect relation to security matters."

In the position paper he submitted to the committee's members the MK wrote: "Does immunity not apply to such a meeting?"

'Naffaa would get death sentence in Syria'

A number of MKs who took part in the meeting asked Naffaa if he did meet with Naji and Mashaal. "The indictment states that you received a gift in Mashaal's office, and I am asking if there was such a meeting. Would one get a gift without meeting the person?" MK Otniel Schneller (Kadima) asked.

MK Anastassia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu) also opposed granting Naffaa immunity, and said, "In a country like Syria, the honorable MK could have found himself sentenced to death for such an offence, but here he dares to insolently ask for diplomatic immunity."

On the other hand, United Arab List-Ta'al MK Ahmad Tibi posed the question: "Are the photographs of (Tourism Minister Stas) Misezhnikov shaking the hand of the Iranian minister, who is certainly a foreign agent, an achievement? If he had taken him to a dark corner, what would you say then, attorney general? What do you think? You would all support him and say this was a diplomatic achievement."