'Israelis lost.' Azmi Bishara in Egypt (archive photo)
Photo: AP
My resignation baffling Israel’s right, Bishara says
Arab-Israeli politician suspected of aiding enemy during Lebanon war says his resignation from Knesset ‘spread confusion especially among right-wing in Israel, which prepared a carnival of incitement’
Former Balad Knesset Member Azmi Bishara told Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram on Saturday that his resignation from parliament has “spread confusion in Israel, especially among the Right, which prepared a carnival of incitement in light of the allegations against me.”
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Bishara, who resigned from the Knesset due to an investigation conducted against him over alleged security offenses committed during the Second Lebanon War, added that he was invited to stay at a number of Arab countries and that only he would determine the date of his return to Israel.
The Arab politician is 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.
Speaking from Doha, Qatar, Bishara said the allegations against him are baseless.
“I left it to the Israelis to determine the rules of the game and they have lost, regardless of whether I am convicted or not,” he said.
“I decided not to accept the rules of the game as they were determined by the Israelis, who want to prevent me from supporting the resistance.”
Balad and other political parties are organizing a rally in support of Bishara in Nazareth Saturday. According to Balad officials, Israel is not acting against Bishara or the party but against the entire Palestinian-Arab minority in Israel.
