MK Azmi Bishara
Photo: Ata Awisat
MK Bishara's family returns to Israel
After leaving country for Jordan, MK's wife and son return without the Balad party head; reports say Bishara left for Europe after Jordanian foreign minister asked him to respect Hashemite Kingdom's sovereignty
Knesset Member Azmi Bishara's wife and son have returned to Israel, fellow Balad MK Jamal Zahalka told Israeli-Arab website Kul al Arab on Wednesday.
The family, including Bishara himself, left for Jordan on Sunday; Bishara reportedly left for Europe on Tuesday. It is still unclear whether his family's return indicates that he is soon to follow.
Meanwhile, Bishara's party Balad has filed a request to lift the gag order on his affair, in a bid to refute the rumors surrounding the MK.
Rumors
MK Azmi Bishara's party denounces rumors he intends to resign as 'political persecution,' assert Bishara will return from trip to Jordan as scheduled
Before leaving Jordan, Bishara met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdelelah Al-Khatib. The Jordanian news agency reported that the two discussed the affair in which Bishara was involved and ideas that could serve in relations between Israeli-Arabs and the State.
It was also reported that Bishara met with former Jordanian prime minister and deputy chairman of Jordan's Upper House of Parliament Taher al-Masri. Al-Masri is considered one of the most prominent leaders in Jordan's Palestinian community.
Israeli-Arab newspaper a-Sinanra, which first uncovered Bishara's leaving the country, reported on Tuesday that during his meeting with Jordan's foreign minister, he was asked to honor Jordan's sovereignty. Apparently, Bishara took this to mean that Jordan preferred he leave its territory and not hold a press conference he had planned.
Shortly after this meeting Bishara left for Europe, with some reports indicating he was headed for Madrid.
According to reports, Bishara also underwent medical exams in Amman due to kidney pains. After his five-day tour in Europe, Bishara is expected to visit Bahrain.
Over the past few days, members of Bishara's Balad party made it clear that he would return to Israel once he was done with his meetings.
On Tuesday, the party's central committee held a special meeting in Nazareth, where it was announced that rumors that that party's chairman would resign and not return to Israel were untrue.
