Israeli judicial system under fire

Many in Israel have called for the parliamentary immunity of an Arab member of Knesset to be revoked after his controversial statements in which he criticized the Israeli judicial system.

Talab Al Sane' of the Arab Democratic Party had called to avenge the death of Suleiman Abu Jelidan, a Bedouin who was shot dead by a nature preserve officer during a chase last week.

Al Sane', himself a Bedouin, denounced the release of the killer arguing that had the killer been an Arab and the victim a Jew, the Arab would have immediately been taken into custody. The murder suspect, an inspector from the Nature Preservation Authority and the National Park Authority, was held at a police station for a few hours before he was sent home.

Mohammed Abu Habak, the 19-year-old driver of the van Abu Jelidan was riding in, told the press conference of what had happened. "The inspector approached us and I heard a shot."

Rahat Mayor Faisal Al Huzeil said that the ease with which the inspector was released from detention "induces a lack of faith in the Israeli judicial system, and harms the chances for coexistence in the Negev. The inspectors regard the life of a rabbit or a deer as holier than a human life."