Palestinians in Knesset face arm-twisting

Ramallah: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he plans to punish Palestinian members of the Israeli Knesset for visiting Palestinian families who have been demanding the release of bodies of their loved ones killed by Israeli forces.

Netanyahu said its unbecoming of Knesset members to visit and pay condolences to homes of “Palestinian attackers”.

Several Palestinian Knesset members including Haneen Al Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka and Basil Ghattas visited the grieving families to bring attention to the inhumane and punitive practice of Israeli authorities of withholding bodies of Palestinians killed as a way to punish their families. Sometimes it takes over a month for Palestinians to receive the bodies, which are often frozen so badly that it takes days for them to thaw out.

Israel uses the withheld bodies of Palestinians as a bargaining chip to ensure the families restrict participation at funerals, even forcing them to hold funerals at night.