In what will be an unprecedented measure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein have decided to file personal complaints with the Knesset Ethics Committee against Israeli-Arab MKs Hanin Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka and Basel Ghattas of the Joint List faction, who met this week with the families of Palestinian terrorists.

Netanyahu and Edelstein spoke Thursday night and decided on the measure.

Prime Minister Netanyahu issued the following statement: ”Members of Knesset who go to comfort the families of terrorists who murdered Israelis do not deserve to be in the Israeli Knesset. I have asked the Speaker of the Knesset to examine what steps can be taken against them."

Knesset Speaker Edelstein said in a statement that the visit with the terrorists' families constitutes incitement and encouragement to murder: "It cannot be that while innocent civilians are being slaughtered on the streets of Israel, MKs go to comfort [the terrorists' families] and with incomparable audacity, even bring their requests to the government. I see this as seriously harming the Knesset and the State of Israel and hope that this will enter the hearts and minds of Supreme Court judges next time they rule on an appeal of the disqualification of unworthy candidates for the Knesset."

Addressing the Knesset plenum on February 8, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "I heard the attacks on me in some faction meetings today, and I wish to make it clear: We are in favor of the integration of Israel's Arab citizens into society, the economy and the state. We are investing a lot of resources and efforts in this, but at the same time, and particularly out of this outlook, we are not willing to accept a situation in which MKs support the families of people who murder Israeli citizens. There is a limit."

After discussing the numerous complaints filed against Joint List MKs Hanin Zoabi, Basel Ghattas and Jamal Zahalka over their meeting last week with the families of Palestinian terrorists, the Ethics Committee reached a majority decision Monday night to suspend Zoabi and Ghattas from plenary sessions and committee hearings for a period of four months, while Zahalka was suspended for two months.

The suspended lawmakers will be able to take part in votes in the plenum and the committees.