Bishara in Lebanon: Hizbullah stronger than ever
Former MK who fled country after police accused him of spying for Hizbullah during war tours southern Lebanon, says Israel intentionally massacred Lebanese civilians, praises Hizbullah fighting. Israel 'incapable of attacking again,' says Bishara
Former Arab Israeli Knesset Member Azmi Bishara, accused by Israel of spying for Hizbullah during the Second Lebanon War, praised the Lebanese-based terror organization during a tour of southern Lebanon
on Friday, saying it is now stronger than ever.
Bishara, a once prominent Arab Israeli leader, fled the country in June after police began investigating whether Bishara had contacted a Hizbullah official during the war and delivered information on strategic locations in Israel the group should aim its rockets at.
Bishara allegedly received hundreds of thousands of shekels in return.
Bishara has denied the allegations and said he was being persecuted for his political beliefs.
He refuses, however, to return to Israel and face the charges.
''Everybody envies the Lebanese for their resistance (Hezbollah) and its leadership, but I envy the resistance for its people,'' said Bishara on Friday, according to comments carried by the state-run National News Agency.
Bishara slammed Israeli attacks during the war and hinted it had purposely killed civilians. ''The massacres that were carried out by Israel were not a coincidence but were a strategic policy to frighten people,'' he said.
He praised Hizbullah for its performance during the war last summer, which was triggered by a Hizbullah cross-border raid and the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers.
''I am convinced that Israel has become incapable of attacking Lebanon again, and that is a very big
achievement for the resistance,'' he said.
''Hizbullah has rearmed itself in the last year and perhaps is now stronger than ever,'' he added, according to the NNA.
