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Bishara: I will return
Former Balad chairman intends to return to Israel, waiting for media hype to die down. ‘I am not looking for political asylum, but for ways to go back’ Bishara says
Associated Press
An Israeli Arab politician suspected of aiding the enemy said Thursday that he would return to Israel, but he was waiting for the fuss over his foreign contacts to quiet down.
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| Bishara suspected of aiding enemy during Lebanon war / Efrat Weiss |
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Shin Bet, police conduct investigation against Balad chairman on suspicion he collaborated with the enemy during Second Lebanon War. MK Bishara, who left Israel nearly three weeks ago, is also suspected of money laundering |
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A court in the Israeli town of Petah Tikva said Wednesday that Bishara, who resigned from parliament this week, was suspected of aiding enemies of the state in times of war, passing intelligence to the enemy, contacting foreign agents and receiving money in violation of anti-money laundering laws.
“In the next few weeks, I am not thinking of surrendering to their rules,” Bishara told The Associated Press. “Let’s see what happens after the media campaign in Israel against me calms down, and they start to look at issues rationally.”
Bishara, 50, who left Israel three weeks ago, said he did not consider himself a fugitive.
“I am not looking for political asylum, but for ways to go back,” he said, adding that he had a house in the northern city of Haifa, a rented apartment in Jerusalem where his wife comes from, and an office in Nazareth - his constituency.
No charges have been filed against Bishara. Some of the offenses of which he is suspected occurred during Israel’s war against the Lebanese militant group Hizbullah last July and August.
“These are serious charges in their (Israeli) language,” Bishara said. “Particularly because they refer to time of war. But they are against Azmi Bishara, who never fought anyone, except with words, articles and books.”
Since joining parliament in 1996, Bishara has antagonized many Jewish Israelis by meeting with some of the country’s bitterest enemies, including the leaders of Syria and Hizbullah.
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