Zoabi refuses Knesset bodyguards despite death threats
The Israeli Arab MK allegedly refused to give her schedule to Knesset Security Office Yosef Griff, preventing him from assigning bodyguards to protect her.
By LAHAV HARKOVUpdated: JULY 11, 2016 12:33Haneen Zoabi speaks at Central Elections Committee hearing to ban her from running for Knesset(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
MK Haneen Zoabi (Joint List) effectively refused personal protection from Knesset security, even though she has received death threats that the police found to be credible.According to sources in the Knesset, she refused to give her schedule to Knesset Security Office Yosef Griff, preventing him from assigning bodyguards to protect her.A week and a half ago, Zoabi called IDF soldiers "murderers" during a speech in the Knesset, sparking a near-brawl in the plenum.Since then, she has received death threats, and the police determined have reached "level three," meaning she requires more security.Zoabi declined to comment.Following the Knesset mêlée, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit to look into legal ways of removing Zoabi from the Knesset.The Ethics Committee received more than 100 complaints, a record number, against Zoabi following her statements, most of which were from concerned citizens.In the past, the committee has suspended Zoabi from all Knesset activity except voting for periods of several months for repeatedly inciting terrorism.
