The Knesset voted on the 13^th to revoke MK Haneen Zoabi of Balad of three of her privileges.  They are revoking her diplomatic passport, rescinding her privilege to leave the country if she commits a felony and taking away the right of the Knesset to cover any legal fees if she ever faces a trail. 

MK Danny Danon of Likud said, “The decision was a symbolic message that this Knesset sent to the Arab MKs who choose not to support terrorism vocally but actually to take cynical parts in a terrorist attack."  A main part of the controversy was the fact that Zoabi describes herself as a Palestinian, which many Israelis and MK’s find hypocritical of a member of the Israeli Knesset.  The titles of Israeli Knesset Member and Palestinian seem to be contradictory.

This legislation, which calls for harsher treatment of Hamas terrorist prisoners was sparked by the unequal living conditions of Gilad Shalit and Hamas prisoners, has just been confirmed by the Knesset.  Danny Danon wanted to put pressure on Palestinian forces by worsening the living conditions of Hamas prisoners, so hopefully, Gilad Shalit’s kidnappers will want to proceed with talks about his safe release.