Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer on Tuesday called on the attorney general to launch an investigation against Joint Arab List lawmakers over their reported plan to seek a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Israel over the controversial nation-state law.
Joint Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi on Monday denied reports that his party has teamed with teamed up with Palestinian officials to take such action, saying, "This is fake news. The Joint Arab List has no standing in the United Nations and therefore it cannot promote such an appeal."
Forer said he had asked Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit to investigate the Arab MKs for intending to undermine Israel's foreign relations and international image.
He said their actions appear to have violated Article 121 of the Israeli penal code, which states that "anyone who commits an offense with the intention to harm Israel's relations with a foreign state, organization or institution ... may face up to 10 years in prison."
"Unlike most Knesset members, who often represent Israeli interests in other parliaments and the United Nations, Joint Arab List MKs abuse their position to undermine the State of Israel and its foreign relations," Forer posted on Facebook.
"My call on the attorney general over these reports joins many cases in which the members of the Joint Arab List sought to harm Israel and counter its national interests.
"More than once, including in recent days, Joint Arab List MKs have admitted that their actions seek to harm Israel and see it come under [international] sanctions.
"No one disputes the fact that these MKs have violated the [Knesset's] Code of Ethics, for which they should be suspended and even deprived of their salaries.
"Moreover, law enforcement authorities must investigate whether these serious actions were indeed committed, as they may constitute the criminal offense of contact with a foreign agent and undermining Israel's foreign relations.
"I urge the attorney general to exercise his powers to put a stop to this disgrace, where Israeli lawmakers act to undermine the State of Israel," Forer wrote.
