The Israel Prison Service Parole Board on Tuesday denied an appeal for early release by former Joint Arab List MK Basel Ghattas, saying he has expressed no remorse for his crimes.
Ghattas is serving a two-year sentence for smuggling cellphones and other materials to Palestinian security prisoners. He is serving his sentence in Eshel Prison, near Beersheba.
In April 2017, Ghattas pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling contraband into prison, violating Israel Prison Service directives, providing the means to carry out acts of terror, and fraud and breach of trust by a public official.
He was also sentenced to 18 months' probation and ordered to pay a 120,000 shekel ($33,000) fine.
In its decision to deny the appeal, the parole board said Ghattas "did not express explicit remorse for his actions, whose results could have had a serious impact on state security.
"There are no grounds to order his early release prior his agreeing to participate in a rehabilitation program in prison."
