Arab-Israeli MK forced to leave the country: "He’s helping the enemy".
In few days, maybe by next Tuesday [my note: today], a known Arab-Israeli MK will have resigned and then he will be living abroad, as a result of the accusations the Israeli magistrates, relying on alleged evidence of “cooperation with the enemy” gathered by the Israeli secret services, would seem to be ready to pronounce against him.
The above was reported in Nazareth’s A-Sinnara weekly, without revealing the deputy’s name yet.
Reliable Palestinian sources told “il Manifesto” that the man in question is Azmi Bishara, leader of Tajammo party (Balad in Hebrew) and famous Arab-Israeli intellectual.
In the end of a session of Tajammo’s political direction - that took place in Jordan, where the deputy has gone several days ago - Bishara has decided that he isn’t coming back until the Israeli magistrate’s intentions are clear.
It’s foreseeable that the Arab-Israeli MK will be stripped of the Parliamentary immunity once again, just as in 2001, when he was charged with addressing a speech in which he urged the Arab States to take a firmer stance in support of the Palestinians from the Occupied Territories and with arranging journeys for Arab-Israeli families who wanted to visit their refugee relatives in Syria.
The details of the accusations that are now being made against him aren’t on record, yet, during the last two years, Bishara was repeatedly accused of keeping “suspicious contacts” with people in Syria and Lebanon, countries where he often goes in order to attend conferences and lectures and that are regarded by the Israeli law as “enemies”.
The speeches he makes around the world are regularly recorded and analysed by the authorities so as to check possible expressions of “strong” support in favour of the Palestinian resistance against the occupation.
He’s been also accused of shaking hands with “hostile” Arab personalities and of appearing in some photos along with Hezbollah’s leaders.
According to rumours, the security services are expected to have records of phone talks between Bishara and some leading members from Hezbollah, among which is General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah himself, which came about during the days of the devastating Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon and the katyushia rockets being launched against Galilee.
Fundamentally, Bishara would seem to be accused of keeping contacts with the enemy during wartime. Yet, it looks quite improbable that Nasrallah, Israeli air force’s target, hidden in a secret place under very strict security measures, might have phoned during the war (phone lines, not least the mobile phone ones, are a formidable means in the secret services’ hands to find people) in order to engage himself in conversations with Bishara who is, in turn, kept under constant surveillance.
Bishara has been an MK since 1996. Philosopher, political analyst (his articles are published by both Arab and Western papers), former Communist activist and then founder of Tajammo progressive party, he has become one of the main beacons to the Palestinian Israeli minority (1.5 million people, 20% of the entire population) in recent years.
Brave spokesman of his people’s wish for equality and supporter of the rights of the Palestinians living under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza, Bishara even stood as candidate for the Premier office in 1999, founding his agenda on the transformation of Israel from a Jewish State to a “bi-national State for Jews and Arabs”.
He has always called for the recognition of the Israeli Palestinians as a “national minority”.
In 1992, Bishara joined the group of Arab and Jewish politicians who put forward the “charter of equality” in which they claimed the proclamation of a “secular democratic Republic” where no discrimination between citizens should happen.
The Israeli right and, to some extent, the centre-left, consider him as a “threat” for the State’s security. He defines himself as a political leader who limits himself to expressing his own opinions.
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Translated from Italian by Diego Traversa and revised by Mary Rizzo for Tlaxcala and peacepalestine.
© 2007 Michele Giorgio/Il Manifesto 8/4/07
From PeacePalestine
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ADDENDUM, April 13, 2007:
Israeli secret police may have set up missing Israeli-Arab lawmaker
http://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/1215
Former minister Shulamit Aloni has already told the media recently that she thought Shin Bet would try to set him up
Related
A very thin slice of earth
Israeli-Arab lawmaker disappears
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""Bishara is being persecuted because of his political and ideological views, and because of his national and democratic opinions. Former minister Shulamit Aloni has already told the media recently that she thought Shin Bet would try to set him up and this is what we think has happened. We wish to remove the uncertainty, we have a lot to say, if we were only allowed," he said."
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Don't slam Carter; Israel's grip is real | Wake Up From Your Slumber
By Shulamit Aloni
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Balad demands removal of gag order
Following rumors about circumstances leading to party head MK Azmi Bishara's disappearance, members plan serious PR campaign, threaten to turn to High Court for right to defend Balad
Roee Nahmias
Published: 04.12.07, 20:52 / Israel News
Harmed by rumors surrounding the disappearance of Balad Chairman Azmi Bishara, faction chairman MK Jamal Zahalka said the party would turn to the High Court of Justice if the gag order on the affair was not lifted.
"We find ourselves at a dead end since we cannot talk…We have nothing to hide, on the contrary, we have someone to blame. If the court does not order the gag order to be removed on Sunday, we will go to the High Court of Justice," Zahalka told Ynet on Thursday.
"We will go all the way to the High Court to realize our right to respond to the fabricated accusations against us, and refute the malicious rumors that are being published through the media," added Zahalka.
"Bishara is being persecuted because of his political and ideological views, and because of his national and democratic opinions. Former minister Shulamit Aloni has already told the media recently that she thought Shin Bet would try to set him up and this is what we think has happened. We wish to remove the uncertainty, we have a lot to say, if we were only allowed," he said.
When asked if Bishara plans to return to Israel next week, Zahalka said he does not know of such plans. "His return could be sooner, or later. As of yet there is no date."
Either way, Balad is serious about the PR attack it plans to launch once the gag order is removed.
Joining forces
On Thursday the party heads met with their Hadash party colleagues to discuss strategy. Present at the meeting were Zahalka himself, MK Wasil Taha (Balad) the party's secretary-general Awad Abdel Fattah and Hanan Zoabi.
Hadash was represented by its chairman Mohammad Barakeh, MK Dov Khenin, former MK Issam Makhoul and Ayman Odeh.
Zahalka said that this meeting was part of a series of meetings with all Israeli-Arab political figures.
"We met with the northern and southern branches of the Islamic Movement, the Arab Democratic Party and all the rest… In meetings with Hadash, it was agreed that we are facing a difficult period and we must join forces to prevent a blow to the right to political activity among the Arab public. We will plan techniques, either under the frame of a monitoring committee, or under another frame," said Zahalka.
After the meeting, Hadash Chairman Muhammad Barakeh attempted to get a message across to the general public in Israel, telling Ynet that "there is cynical use of what is called legal restrictions or a gag order in order to slander the whole Arab population."
"The fact that we sit in Knesset means that we accept the rules applying to the State of Israel and every attempt to push the Arab public or its elected out of legitimacy is a racist, fascist attempt," he added.
"We cannot comment on MK Bishara's affair but we can say that since October 2000, 30 investigations against Arab MKs have been opened," ended Barakeh.
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