Tomorrow Wednesday 9 October 2013, 9 am: Israeli Supreme Court to Hear Far Right-Wing Petition Demanding Indictment of Arab MK Haneen Zoabi

Tomorrow, 9 October 2013, the Supreme Court of Israel will hold a hearing on a petition filed by far right-wing politicians Michael Ben Ari and Itamar Ben Gvir, who are demanding that the Attorney General (AG) criminally indict Arab Member of Knesset (MK) Haneen Zoabi of the Tajammo’a/Balad political party (National Democratic Assembly) for her participation in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in 2010. The petition was filed against the AG’s decision of January 2011 to close all criminal files opened against Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel who took part in the Flotilla, including a file opened against MK Zoabi. Adalah’s General Director, Attorney Hassan Jabareen, will represent MK Zoabi during the hearing.

Prior to the hearing, Attorney Jabareen submitted arguments to the court on behalf of MK Zoabi, in which he emphasized that on 20 August 2013, the Supreme Court had issued a decision relating to MK Zoabi’s participation in the 2013 Knesset elections. In its decision, the court clearly stated that MK Zoabi had not committed any criminal offense and/or any offense related to acts of violence. Adalah also argued that Ben Ari’s petition contained no evidence, and was wholly at odds with the conclusions reached by the AG’s own investigation into the matter, and should therefore be dismissed.

For more information, see:

Adalah Press Release, “Adalah defends MK Haneen Zoabi against Supreme Court Petition Demanding a Criminal Indictment for her Participation in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla,” 14 February 2012

Adalah Press Release, “Israeli Supreme Court Delivers Detailed Decision in MK Haneen Zoabi’s Elections Disqualification Case,” 22 August 2013