The committee proposed that Zoabi lose the special MK privileges, including leaving Israel without consent, the right to carry a diplomatic passport and the privilege of having the Knesset cover legal expenses in the even of litigation against an MK.

Seven Israeli Knesset members voted in favor of revoking her rights, while MK Ilan Gilon of the leftist Meretz party voted against the decision.

The Israeli Channel 10 television said that the voting followed stormy discussion, which included Committee Chairman Yariv Levin of ruling Likud party ordering the removal of two leftist MKs from the room.

The committee also discussed the demand to revoke the privileges of other Arab lawmakers who visited Libya recently.

The attorney general's senior assistant, Attorney Ran Nizri, said that Zoabi is suspected of entering a close military zone and being involved in the violence against the Navy soldiers who raided the ship. He added that when the investigation was completed, the attorney general would decide whether to file an indictment.

"The attorney general believes that the MK's participation in such a flotilla is definitely inappropriate," he said.

For his part, the Knesset's legal adviser, Attorney Eyal Yinon, said he objects to revoking the privileges.

"I would like to clarify and stress that from a legal point of view, this discussion's point of departure cannot be denying the Knesset members' legitimacy to serve in the Knesset due to the visit to Libya or the participation in the Gaza flotilla," said Yinon. "The debate must focus on the misuse of rights and not on the tenure of the Knesset members under discussion here."

Zoabi said that "this is a field trial. Committee Chairman Yariv Levin is taking advantage of the incitement atmosphere and is seeking to grab the momentum in the Israeli street, in favor of the army and against the flotilla. This is why he chose to open the discussion with me and Balad's political platform. All this in order to de-legitimize both my participation in the flotilla and the political platform of a country for all its citizens."

She added that "the atmosphere in the committee this morning destroys everything left from democracy, which allowed the expression of opinions exceeding the Zionist consensus. The committee threatens not just me, Balad, or the Arab Knesset members, but any sane democrat in this country."

Zoabi added that members of her Balad party have been victims of a witch hunt following the Gaza flotilla affair.

"I receive messages from people that I don't even know who understand what I have been saying for months — that Balad party members have been victims of a witch hunt," Zoabi said.

Zoabi was nearly physically attacked by other Israeli Knesset members when she ascended the Knesset podium to speak last week, after she returned from the MV Marmara ship, which was attacked in international waters by Israeli commandos, leading to the death of nine activists.