Lawmaker in cell

JERUSALEM: Former IsraeliArab lawmaker Basel Ghattas started his 24-month sentence in jail for smuggling mobile phones to Palestinian prisoners in an Israeli jail.

In Arab and Hebrew statements to the press outside the Gilboa prison in the northern district, Ghattas said he entered jail “proud, with my head up and with a real public support of my people”. Ghattas, a lawmaker with the ArabJewish Joint List party, vowed to continue his political activity after his release.

“I will continue to defend the prisoners’ rights and bring their cases to the public’s attention,” he said.