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MK Zoabi after flotilla raid
Photo: Hagai Aharon

AG to rule on MK Zoabi probe soon

Weinstein still waiting for legal clarifications before deciding whether to launch criminal investigation against Arab lawmaker for participating in Gaza-bound flotilla last year

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein is expected to make a decision soon on whether to launch a criminal investigation against Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi (Balad) for participating in last year's Gaza-bound flotilla.

 

Weinstein was asked to probe Zoabi over her participation in the controversial sail, which resulted in the killing of nine passengers as Navy commandos took over a Turkish vessel.

 

 

Most of the flotilla's participants were expelled from Israel after the deadly incident, while the police was asked to investigate the participation of several Israeli Arabs, including MK Zoabi and Sheikh Raed Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement's northern branch.

 

The police investigation's findings were handed to the State Prosecutor's Office, which formed an opinion after looking into the material and presented it to Weinstein's review several days ago.


 

MK Zoabi before boarding Turkish ship last year

 

The attorney general held several discussions on the matter in recent weeks, during which different legal questions were raised. Justice Ministry Moshe Cohen told Ynet that Weinstein would only make a decision after receiving clarifications on those questions.

 

Senior legal officials added that the entire flotilla issue was problematic, as the army authorities did not cooperate with the police, failed to provide soldier' testimonies and did not collect evidence on the scene.

 

The officials added that indicting MK Zoabi and Sheikh Salah could prove problematic as the two could claim discrimination, pointing to the fact that the hostile elements which took part in the flotilla were immediately deported from Israel and did not face any legal action.

 

MK Zoabi made headlines when she criticized Israel before and after the flotilla, saying the army had sought to kill as many flotilla passengers as possible. As an act of protest, the Knesset revoked her parliamentary privileges.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.29.11, 23:40
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