it is dangerous to throw around such accusations like that, unless there is merit to them. if so, then everything shin bet ever says must also be treated as if it were premeditated lies. then why should anyone believe shin bet about anything that is actually serious? maybe they will be lying about that, too. who knows?

"We cannot treat a Knesset member as if he was some kind of small-time snitch." With all the scandals involving MKs from the PM downwards, I assume this comment to have been inserted with an unhealthy degree of cynicism The fact that MK LIvni was virtually the only Cabinet member perceived to be free of any impropriety (her soft backbone is another matter entirely), speaks volumes of the standing of "ordinary" MKs (who are presumably grubbing to be on the "top table" by hook or by crook). That said, there certainly does appear to be some water-muddying in this "Bishara affair".

I also wondered why Bishara was being "accused" of guiding Hizbullah's missiles...as though Nasrallah didn't know where Haifa is. Thank you for this article. It is about time that you, reporters, open our eyes!

A law was introduced in 2001 because Bishara visited an enemy country. He did so last summer during a war and the minimum penalty is I believe, 4 years. He can't deny his trip so let him come back and serve his four years during which time it can be established if he passed on information or not. Wasel Taha and Jamal Zahalka also went on the trip and need to be arrested and serve their time too.

They will never forget about you. never. soon or later, you will be in lovely hands of some guys ! sorry. I feel you sold them. what will happen ; 1. You will be news for a while 2. Israel will forget about you !!! 3. Your friends will sell you to some people 4. in three years they will find you dead. The Doctor report will say : He killed himself. sorry to give you a bad news. Atilla Karagözoğlu

believe me it is the truth mr bishmara never tell a lie and he didnt help the mizballah with information he is the man of honour now aks youself who are you going to believe me and mr bishmara we are honourable men that never lie to you or the shin gate believe me mr bishmara not done nothig wrong from our point of view

1- Any doubt about his intentions dissipates after reading and hearing his statements about Israel. He has the INTENTION and he had THE MEANS to betray Israel. Furthermore no one confident on his innocence ESCAPES from the country. 2- It seems to me that the people who is speaking on his behalf are only showing their fear of the arabs. They are stupid: if he´s guilty he will be cleared by the tribunals but interfering with the law gives a clear perception to the arabs that they can corrupt the system and bring fear to the hearts of the jews by "suggesting" a violent reaction if they are challenged.

it is compulsory that we should treat minority MKs (and past minority MKs) with more respect than we treat our "own". in this particular case, we might (and should allow ourselves to) learn more from Mr. Bishara than him from us. if it is true what Bishara says, then the Shabak turned a unique potential asset of sorts into a huge liability.

From the article: "Does anyone think that any security official ever handed him sensitive information? That he has access to such information? After all, to this day Arab political representatives are kept away from any location that has sensitive information. For years, the right to send a representative to the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee was based on the following formula: A party had to have a number of Knesset members that is equal to one more than the largest Arab party…" This is an easily disproved lie. MK Taleb A-Sanaa from the United Arab List (Ta'al) party , used to be on the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee- despite his calls for a worldwide boycott of Israel. He was forced to resign, however, after conducting illegal meetings with Hamas leaders.

OF COURSE the Shabak is lying. It has hounded Palestininian MKs for years, but Bishara in particular because he is outspoken and promotes an intolerable viewpoint--that Israel should become a true democracy by becoming a state of all its citizens, treated equally, not just the Jews. What a panic that throws them into!

he was being Hizballah's minister for Israeli affairs. Any exchange of information with Hizballah during the war should be judged as treason.

Amnon Levy should ask himself a simple question. Does Azmi Bishara belong in an Israeli prison if not for what he is presently accused of doing but for all his gross and highly publicized violations of the security interests of Israel in the past? If there is a legitimate question to be asked here it is why he was not incarcerated for his subversive activities before fleeing the country. This is the last article that carries his signature that i shall ever read.

It's not like Bishara to be intimidated. After al, he never hesitated from visiting our enemies and publicly supporting them. Hang him high!

DON'T BELIEVE A.LEVY ALWAYS LIES

Amnon Levy - you really showed that the king is naked. To make Azmi Bishara into a scapegoat for the failed war... There is no shame left it seems.

It doesn't matter what real evidence the security services have on Bishara. It is no secret that Bishara sat down to break bread with those who want to murder us. He visited them only to encourage them to continue their quest to erase the Jews off the map. His actions would be called treason if he was a Jew or had any previous loyality to Israel. But he was our enemy since the day he was born. We have a fifth column on our hands. When are we going to wake up??????

I quote you, "What is the legitimate boundary of contact between an elected Arab official and hostile Arab elements?" "Arab" is irrelevant, and the law allows no such distinction. I too am suspicious about what Bishara could know. However I also have little doubt that he would share any such information he might come to possess. For consideration, Josef Cohen

He was a hero not only to Hizbullah but also to the Meretz members of the Knesset. They considered him a supper intellectual. And Meretz knows a lot. They have very close relations not only with the High Court and all bosses of Israel. They have very close connections to Olmert's friends like Livni, etc. who know a lot. People will do a lot of things for money. Look at our "leaders", Sharon, Olmert, etc. Beilin and others often go to vistit PA people. They all are very close and have more or less the same goals.

Amnon Levy thinks, Israel acted "idiotic" in the case of Azmi Bishara. Mr.Levy should be careful using his language. For a Knesset member to talk with Hezbollah during wartime is not a question of "bad taste", but it is a criminal act. Bishara and his Arab colleagues are not representing Israeli Arabs in the Arab world, they represent Israeli citizens in Israels parliament. If Amnon Levy was hesitating for a long time to write about the Bishara case, he should have followed his instinct longer. His opinion in this case is not just irrelevant, it is outright stupid.

Is shabak spying on all arab in israel , if so i will have problem now, shabak and israel state are afraid of the philosophy of dr azmi, the way of thinking specially the country of two nationality, they dont want this voice in keneset and in whole israel, for 60 years they succeed some how to change the mentality of israel arab, and plant in them the defeated mentality, Azmi bishara by establishing his party work well to plant the the national fact in the new generation, in which israel find all the 60 years work gone with the wind so they feel threaten, but if someone like dr azmi work peacefully and he is not a terrorist according to israel and usa definition, and he is keneset member treated like this, just for saying his ideas, just for thinking, what israel left for the new arab generation, they left for them oneway which is to use weapons and fight, is that what israel want. wakeup israel.