Israeli police question Arab lawmakers on money laundering
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Israeli police say they are investigating two Arab lawmakers on suspicion of money laundering and fraud.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says Hanin Zoabi and Jamal Zahalka of the Balad party are suspected in crimes related to the smuggling of hundreds of thousands of dollars into Israel from Jordan. Samri says the money was used in election campaigns in 2013. She did not provide details on the source of the funding.
Balad is a Palestinian nationalist party whose members frequently clash with the Israeli government. Samri says police have detained and questioned dozens of members and raided the party's offices.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A spokeswoman for Zoabi said Monday that "this is a political investigation."
Arabs make up one fifth of Israel's population and serve in Israel's parliament, but often suffer discrimination.