BICOM

The Israeli Police has recommended that three Balad MKs be charged with criminal offences related to political donations received during the 2013 elections and party spending during the 2015 elections.

Balad MKs Hanin Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka, and Juma Azbarga are accused of fraudulently obtaining benefits, falsification, money laundering, fraud and breach of trust, among others offences. The decision to press charges lies with the State Prosecutor.

The police investigation, conducted by the Lahav 433 special crimes unit and the Economic Department in the State Attorney’s Office, was opened following the State Comptroller’s report on the party’s donations and expenses. At the time, Police seized falsified receipts and documents listing exaggerated party expenses to cover up the alleged illicit donations, and dozens of party officials were questioned, including political activists and managers of local party offices from across the country.

Balad claimed one month after the police investigation was first made public in 2016 that it amounted to “political persecution meant to humiliate the party”.

MK Zoabi said: “We are certain this is political persecution with no justification. Instead of the police employing officers to eradicate the violence and crime that endanger our lives, they are sending 3,000 police officers to us for political persecution, while only 30 officers are sent to a murder scene.”

The Balad party said yesterday that the police recommendation “is a dangerous escalation in the political witch hunt against the leaders of the Arab public, a continuation of the wild incitement of politicians against the Arab parties”.

“The police are trying to make an administrative matter, or alleged financial irregularities during elections, into a criminal matter in order to balance recommendations in the issue of Netanyahu. No one in Balad is suspected or has been questioned about benefits or money taken for himself. Balad is confident the suspicions will prove to be groundless.”

Balad, whose name stands for the Hebrew acronym for ‘National Democratic Assembly’, holds three Knesset seats and is one of the four parties comprising the Joint (Arab) List faction, with 13 of the 120 seats in parliament.

In January 2017, Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit approved the indictment of Balad MK Basel Ghattas on charges of illegally smuggling phones into a prison, prohibited use of property for terrorist purposes, deceit and breach of trust by a public servant and aggravated fraud. He is currently serving two years in prison.