Netanyahu: Open 'criminal investigation' against Palestinian MK

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that opening a "criminal investigation" against Arab MK Haneen Zoabi and condemned other Palestinian members of the Knesset during his speech opening the Knesset's winter season.

"Knesset member [Haneen] Zoabi didn't limit herself to settlers: she justifies all acts of terror. She told a Hamas publication in sorrow and worry that 'individual acts are not enough; a full intifada is needed.' That's unbelievable. A Knesset member in Israel calls for wholesale terror against Israeli citizens. Nothing is more just than opening a criminal investigation against her. Someone who calls for murder or justifies it doesn't deserve to sit in this chamber."

"We want coexistence and we invest in the Arab sector to an extent that previous governments haven't done – on a massive scale. But, to my sorrow, one of those sitting here [MK Basel Ghattas] said: 'The Henkin couple are settlers; you can't relate to them as innocent civilians.' What does that mean? That it's acceptable to murder them?

"We are a state of laws and we will bring to justice anyone – Jew or Arab – who raises a hand against us."

MKs from the Joint List party - which is mostly composed of Palestinian citizens of Israel - walked out of the Knesset when Netanyahu began speaking. MK Issawi Freij, a Palestinian from the leftist Meretz party, was ejected from the chamber after interrupting the speech.

"Our enemies have not yet learned that terror won't defeat us," Netanyahu said. "Time after time, we are the ones who defeat them. And we will also come out of this wave of terror on top. What guides us is the understanding that our struggle is just."

"We have experienced attacks both before and after the establishment of the state; before the Six Day War and after it; when the peace process was in progress and when it stopped," the prime minister said.

"Terror is not a consequence of frustration at the lack of progress in the diplomatic process. It is clear that it comes from the desire to destroy us. That is the cause today as well."

"They are using mendacious propaganda about the Temple Mount to make trouble. There are those who say brazenly that Jews have no connection to the Temple Mount. It seems that it is possible to say anything. They say that the Jews defile the mount and repeat the lie that our intention is to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque or change the status quo – absolute lies.

"We are committed to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount and we scrupulously maintain the holy places of all religions. Were it not for Israel, Muslim extremists would have destroyed the holy places, as they're doing throughout the Middle East. We are the ones defending the religious places of all religions in Jerusalem."