Attorney General Meni Mazuz on Wednesday rejected a request to disband Balad, an Israeli Arab political party, over a visit by Balad MKs Azmi Bishara, Jamal Zahalka, and Wasil Taha to Syria and Lebanon this past September.

The visit was harshly criticized in Israel as an unauthorized overture to enemy countries.

The request that Balad be disbanded was submitted by Attorney Ofer Miller.

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The Justice Ministry issued a statement asserting that "it's difficult to declare that a visit to an enemy country is a dominant part of the Balad party platform or represents their actions as a whole."

The statement added that the visit "did not establish beyond a doubt that the party supports the armed struggle of an enemy country against Israel, or any terrorist organization which targets Israel."

Disbanding Balad would create "an absurd situation where a party no longer in existence will be represented in the Knesset," the ministry said.