State Atty. Edna Arbel has asked for a recording of the harsh words by MK Ahmed Tibi yesterday against IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha’ul Mofaz. Tibi called him a \"fascist, cold-blooded child murderer.\" It appears, however, that his parliamentary immunity will exempt him from standing trial for the crime of incitement. Legislation submitted today by Likud MK Yisrael Katz would disqualify from running for Knesset anyone who has expressed solidarity with a terrorist movement in the previous five years. The proposal passed its preliminary reading in the Knesset, and will now be readied for its first reading. MK Katz, speaking from the Knesset podium, had particularly harsh words for Tibi and the other Arab MKs: \"We have a political Tanzim in the Knesset, and Tibi is its temporary commander... MK Tibi and his friends are like leeches living off the veins of the Israeli democracy, drawing strength from its blood, and we have to peel them off.\"
President Moshe Katzav called on Tibi to apologize. \"There is a limit to the advantage that can be taken of democracy,\" he said. Tibi said he does not plan to apologize.
MK Yitzchak Gagula (Shas) said that he would demand that Arab MKs not be allowed to enter the Knesset building without being bodily checked. \"We have reached a point where the Arab MKs are bringing the intifada into the Knesset,\" he said yesterday. \"They can\'t be allowed in without a body check. During the debate yesterday, they almost jumped on me for no reason... I am afraid of what will happen if we don\'t do that.\" Tibi was supplied with two bodyguards yesterday after he said he had received threats on his life.