MK Taha: Instead of probing me – use me
Police interrogation of Arab MKs who visited Syria, Lebanon continues. National Democratic Assembly MK Wasil Taha protests allegations, saying Israel should ‘take advantage of our status and our ties with a country that Israel is fighting instead of incriminating us’
MK Wasil Taha (National Democratic Assembly) was interrogated Thursday morning at the offices of the International Serious Crimes Unit in Petah Tikva following his illegal visit to Syria and Lebanon. The party's chairman, MK Azmi Bishara, also arrived to be interrogated.
Taha visited Syria and Lebanon as part of a delegation along with NDA MKs Bishara and Jamal Zahalka and former MK Mohammad Knaan (United Arab List). The other suspects are also being questions by police.
Upon entering the office, Taha stated, “Instead of taking advantage of our status and our ties with a country that Israel is fighting, they interrogate us.”
He further noted that in his opinion the visit was not a criminal offense but a political call.
MK Bishara said before his interrogation that those who should have listened to his impressions from the visit were the prime minister or a minister rather than the police officers.
"They themselves are longing to meet (Syrian President) Bashar Assad, but only we have the political conditions for the meeting, not they. They would also very much like to meet with Fouad Siniora," he stated.
Bishara before being interrogated (Photo: Niv Calderon)
Bishara went on to call the law which prohibits visits to Syria and Lebanon a political law.
"They are using propaganda here for which principle? For what, for something they long to do. The law which prohibits trips is a political law made by small politicians. Would Interior Minister Ronnie Bar-On allow me to work politically? He would like me not to even visit Israel. This is a political struggle, they are fighting against us. They should take care of their own business and leave politics for us," he said.
Asked why he made the trip despite the fact that he was already interrogated in the past after traveling to Lebanon, Bishara answered: "I think that the immunity is essential and there is no reason to limit the activity of Knesset members, that is why we are politically elected."
Asked if he would go to Tehran if Iran invited him, he responded: "I don't think it's true. Iran is not an enemy country and either is Libya. I was not invited to Iran, but when they invite me I'll think about it."
At the end of the interrogation Bishara said that it was short, practical and polite. He added that he was interrogated on the visit itself without the investigators going into political questions. He stressed that he was not asked whether he met with Hizbullah or Hamas members.
"I am not sorry we went, if needed I'll go again. We are not going on trips like other MKs, who are taking advantage of their status in order to go abroad. We do it because we think it's important, these are visits at a time of tension. Any normal country would welcome them, because it creates a dialogue," he said.
Probe continues
On Wednesday former Knaan was questioned on the same allegations. After his questioning, Knaan told reporters that he did not view his visit to enemy countries as a violation of the law.
“In my opinion, I did not disobey the law because this law is illegal, and beyond that the interior minister, who is supposed to issue permits so to speak, expressed his stance from the beginning when he attacked the defense minister’s statement that talks with Syria need to be renewed. He (the interior minister) already has his opinion, so how could he give permits?”
MK Zahalka also arrived Wednesday at the police headquarters for questioning.
At the Petah Tikva station he said, “Our political aim is to advance peace and prevent war. This goal in certainly appropriate, and to attain it one must not only go to Syria and Lebanon but to the ends of the earth, to avert bloodshed and save human lives.”
