Basel Ghattas
Basel GhattasYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

A Channel 2 report revealed Wednesday that over the last few months Arab MKs had not been permitted to visit Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails. Generally the person in charge of issuing permits is the Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan, but in recent months he did not issue permits. However, he did provide a permit for MK Basel Ghattas.

Sources close to the minister related that in the last few days Erdan had received hints from the police that they were interested in his approving Ghattas's request to visit the prisoners. The enforcement authorities seem to have been aware of Ghattas's behavior and sought an opportunity to catch him redhanded.

When the opportunity presented itself, Ghattas was indeed caught smuggling the phones into the jail. The phones were used by terrorists to plan attacks from prison.

On Wednesday the Knesset voted to revoke Ghattas's immunity, allowing for his arrrest and interrogation.