Israel's state prosecutor says calling Arab List MKs 'terrorists' is 'free speech'

Israel's state prosecutor's office said on Monday that referring to members of the Palestinian citizens of Israel-led United Arab List (UAL) party as "terrorists" was considered "protected speech".

The statement came in response to UAL lawmaker Waleed Alhwashla's request to revoke National Missions Minister Orit Strock's immunity in order to file an indictment against her for inflammatory remarks she made about Palestinian party members.

In May, Strock said UAL lawmakers were "a terrible predatory beast in sheep's clothing, terrorists in a suit and tie and a sweet smile", adding that there won't be another government in Israel with members of the party.

The UAL, also known as the Ra'am party, is an Arab political party which primarily represents the interests of the Palestinian citizens of Israel, focusing on issues such as civil rights, social justice, and economic development for the Palestinian community in Israel.

Ra'am often emphasises the importance of coexistence and equality within the broader Israeli society, and is socially conservative in contrast to the left-wing and Arab nationalist Balad, which is the other party supported by Palestinian citizens of Israel.

The state prosecutor's office rejected Alhwashla's request to press charges, stating that Strock's statement was "protected under the freedom of expression in general, and in particular freedom of political expression - which is especially broad".

Strock is a far-right minister who has called for the "absolute elimination" of the Palestinian people and advocated for the expansion of Jewish settlements. She has also called for an Israeli state "from the river to the sea".

While the inflammatory remarks against Palestinian lawmakers Strock made were ruled as protected speech, Palestinian MKs have been targeted for their comments.

Two Palestinian lawmakers, MKs Aida Touma-Suleiman and Iman Khatib, were banned from hearings and votes for two months over remarks they made following the 7 October Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel.

Similarly, far-left Israeli MK Ofer Cassif was suspended for 45 days and had his salary deducted for drawing parallels between the Holocaust and Israel's war on Gaza, where over 37,950 people have been killed since 7 October.