Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 21, 2008 Cheshvan 23, 5769 | | Israel Time: 00:18 (EST+7)
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Azmi Bishara speaking to reporters outisde the Arab League headquarters in Cairo on Sunday. (AP)
Last update - 00:00 25/04/2007
Court partially lifts gag order on Bishara probe
Bishara suspected of aiding enemies during Second Lebanon War
By Yoav Stern and Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondents, and AP

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Responding to the allegations, Bishara told Al-Jazeera television "the accusations against me are an attempt to frighten me and my constituents."

"The establishment in Israel is trying to turn personal and political connections with political sources in Arab countries to violations against the security of the state," he said.

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) said that should Bishara be tried, the trial ought to be carried out in public for all those operating as a "fifth column" within the state.

MK Gilad Erdan (Likud) said Bishara should be treated as an escaped criminal. Erdan said he would work to nullify benefits Bishara receives as a former Knesset member.

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) called on Interior Minister Roni Bar-On to invalidate Bishara's citizenship immediately.

Yishai said Bishara is an example of someone who "took advantage of his citizenship to harm the citizens of Israel and is therefore not fit to be a citizen."

MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) called on Bishara to return to Israel and turn himself in to authorities.

"As he knew how to do so well on the Knesset platform, he must also address these suspicions against him," he said.

MK Wasil Taha, of Bishara's own Balad party, called the accusations "nonsensical and false. Bishara denied them during investigation and we are denying them today. Their only purpose is to use Bishara as a scapegoat, to incite public opinion regarding everything dealing with Israel's failure in the [Lebanon] war, and to cover up those failings."

On Wednesday, Petah Tikva Magistrates Court ordered a partial lifting of the gag order on details of the investigation into Bishara.

The court is expected to lift the gag entirely by the end of the week.

The request, made Wednesday by Haaretz and other media sources, along with MK Jamal Zahalka of Bishara's Balad party, asked for an immediate end to the gag order. The police, meanwhile, were planning to ask for its extension.

Initially, the existence of the investigation itself was also subject to a gag order.

The Balad chairman resigned from the Knesset earlier this week ago at Israel's embassy in Cairo. The resignation took effect Tuesday, 48 hours after it reached the desk of Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik.

Bishara has been traveling in the Arab world, but has said that he will return to Israel. On Wednesday, he told the London-based Arabic language newspaper A-Shark al-Awsat that he does not intend to settle in one of the Arab countries.
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  1.   Whatever the ruling may be, Bishara should not be permitted to 09:57  |  Avihu 25/04/07
  2.   Restrict the usage of gag orders during investigation. 14:14  |  H.H.M 25/04/07
  3.   shame on You Haarez 15:02  |  deborah 25/04/07
  4.   Bishara`s citizenship should be taken away from him, and only 15:04  |  Avihu 25/04/07
  5.   Why did the Israeli`s let him run away? 15:17  |  Zev 25/04/07
  6.   No wonder he is hiding and doesn`t want to return to Israel 15:24  |  Joe 25/04/07
  7.   He could be hanged for that 15:28  |  the Law 25/04/07
  8.   most of Israeli Arabs are like Bishara 15:30  |  the sad truth 25/04/07
  9.   Now that we know more about this case, Israel should not 15:53  |  Avihu 25/04/07
  10.   an angry and hateful man 15:55  |  pete 25/04/07
  11.   The bright side... 15:55  |  bat yam 25/04/07
  12.   to `the sad truth` and the rest of you 15:58  |  by gum 25/04/07
  13.   An Arab country would have hung him 16:01  |  Semsem 25/04/07
  14.   Shame on you deborah for failing your "comprehention of written 16:12  |  Mufasa 25/04/07
  15.   He should stand trial and be allowed to defend himself 16:15  |  Rami 25/04/07
  16.   The Persecution of Bishara 16:16  |  Bill 25/04/07
  17.   HHM, Jerusalem 16:24  |  leon 25/04/07
  18.   to # 8: the sadder truth is you are damn wrong 16:25  |  Rami 25/04/07
  19.   if proven strip citizenship stop all payments arrest for trial 16:34  |  ralph 25/04/07
  20.   Bishara is the epitome of a true palestinian 16:48  |  Chick Corea 25/04/07
  21.   To Avihu, No. 4 16:49  |  The Judge 25/04/07
  22.   To Rami #10 16:59  |  Curious Jew 25/04/07
  23.   and if not?! He fraternized with the enemy during war - 4 years ! 16:59  |  redmike 25/04/07
  24.   a few bad apples spoil the lot 17:00  |  rob 25/04/07
  25.   Bishara aims to live in a democratic country 17:00  |  Alex 25/04/07
  26.   #13 - I believe you - see my earlier post. 17:01  |  redmike 25/04/07
  27.   Guilty by bloodline, another example of a persecuted minority 17:03  |  Joe 25/04/07
  28.   #13, the saddest truth 17:07  |  Alex 25/04/07
  29.   Rami`s Correct 17:07  |  Eli 25/04/07
  30.   the same 17:07  |  israeli arab 25/04/07
  31.   bishara; shame on you for doing the Israeli politicians national 17:08  |  DOV KORET 25/04/07
  32.   bring him by interpol 17:11  |  Ahmed 25/04/07
  33.   # 13 Rami re # 8 17:13  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  34.   redmike re Jamal Zahalka 17:17  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  35.   I agree with Rami 17:19  |  Omri 25/04/07
  36.   Bishara: `I am a son of Palestine and Greater Syria` 17:20  |  Chick Corea 25/04/07
  37.   Alex needs reeducation (not in the `classic` German sense tho...) 17:20  |  Sean 25/04/07
  38.   Sick to have a traitor in parliament 17:26  |  Johnny 25/04/07
  39.   #21 Alex - Let me suggest a few democratic countries for Bishara 17:31  |  Yonatan 25/04/07
  40.   #1 Avihu 17:32  |  Labhras 25/04/07
  41.   arab israeli`s = muslim settlers 17:39  |  momo 25/04/07
  42.   @"The Judge", #17 17:45  |  Citizen 25/04/07
  43.   ha ha ha 17:47  |  Pierre 25/04/07
  44.   The good old security excuse is back 17:48  |  Yuval 25/04/07
  45.   to No. 17 17:48  |  Esther 25/04/07
  46.   Wake up call 17:49  |  DovBer 25/04/07
  47.   If accusations proven, he should be tried for high treason. 17:51  |  Fortuna Benmayor 25/04/07
  48.   Joe - very funny indeed 18:00  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  49.   # 11 by gum 18:07  |  Lynn 25/04/07
  50.   Joe: try fact checking 18:08  |  Richard S 25/04/07
  51.   Comptroller calls for criminal probe into PM for corruption 18:12  |  Roy 25/04/07
  52.   Omri, I agree with Rami but not with you 18:25  |  Jake 25/04/07
  53.   Bishara 18:27  |  Erik 25/04/07
  54.   pierre & ha ha ha 18:34  |  poetic justice 25/04/07
  55.   I support Israel 18:35  |  Tami 25/04/07
  56.   #41 momo 18:37  |  Eitan 25/04/07
  57.   You mean treason? 18:42  |  Omar 25/04/07
  58.   # 46 DovBer from ny 18:44  |  Lynn 25/04/07
  59.   Response to Jake 18:49  |  Omri 25/04/07
  60.   Pathetic charges 19:01  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 25/04/07
  61.   And for this nonsense there had to be a gag order? 19:12  |  Suspicious Jew 25/04/07
  62.   Avihu 19:14  |  Roberto 25/04/07
  63.   Azmi is right to resign 19:16  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 25/04/07
  64.   Israel`s Tribal Mindset... 19:17  |  Dutch 25/04/07
  65.   God only knows what secrets this sack of dirt gave his brethren 19:19  |  SLAVO 25/04/07
  66.   Does anyone know anything yet? 19:25  |  NYrker 25/04/07
  67.   Omri, fair enough, Bishara need not be tried 19:28  |  Jake 25/04/07
  68.   Joe 19:37  |  Mike 25/04/07
  69.   Bishara 19:39  |  Vadim 25/04/07
  70.   This Makes Him Even More of a Hero Among the Meretz Morons 19:46  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/04/07
  71.   not all israeli arabs are like bishara 19:48  |  roberta 25/04/07
  72.   48# ChanahS praising Mandela??? 19:49  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 25/04/07
  73.   I believe Bishara. 19:49  |  Deborah 25/04/07
  74.   #44 Yuval 19:49  |  Labhras 25/04/07
  75.   Bill #16 Ignorance and it`s dog 19:50  |  FOX 25/04/07
  76.   no respect for bribery 19:52  |  michel 25/04/07
  77.   Weinstine and Bishara 19:52  |  Omran 25/04/07
  78.   #37 Sean is in london now ,was in manchester 2 hours ago. 19:53  |  Labhras 25/04/07
  79.   SLAVO and others 19:53  |  Brian Freund 25/04/07
  80.   Real enemy 19:55  |  Choni Davidowitz 25/04/07
  81.   Bishara-one heck of a coward! 19:59  |  sptz 25/04/07
  82.   #8 the sad truth is a sad racist 20:07  |  waiting for justice 25/04/07
  83.   do NOT generalize 20:07  |  Jonathan 25/04/07
  84.   Curious, that... 20:10  |  Colin Wright 25/04/07
  85.   #38 but ok to have rapist as president! 20:11  |  waiting for justice 25/04/07
  86.   Poor Bishara 20:17  |  Mike Zarot 25/04/07
  87.   The relentless persecution of Azmi Bishara 20:23  |  Ben Alofs 25/04/07
  88.   Suspicious behaviour 20:25  |  Briton 25/04/07
  89.   Typical kangaroo court charges 20:27  |  Amused 25/04/07
  90.   Dutch are you still around?? 20:32  |  Larry 25/04/07
  91.   Abu Firas and all other deniers 20:49  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  92.   Second time I write to congratulate Bishara 20:50  |  Realistic 25/04/07
  93.   Bishara suspected of aiding enemies during Second Lebanon War 20:51  |  Jean Claude Kessous 25/04/07
  94.   # 75 ignorance? 20:51  |  Bill 25/04/07
  95.   Abu fira # 72 20:57  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  96.   #81 Colin the ridiculous 21:11  |  * BEN JABO 25/04/07
  97.   # 95 ChanahS ..Make your mind up 21:21  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 25/04/07
  98.   # 78 Labharrass 21:26  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  99.   ChanahS..You could do better 21:30  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 25/04/07
  100.   # 36 Chick Corea. BY THESE WORDS ALONE HE HAS ... 21:36  |  Kath` 25/04/07
  101.   I love it, let Israel continue to alienate it`s minority 21:36  |  Joe 25/04/07
  102.   Ben Alofs # 87 21:36  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  103.   # 89 21:38  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  104.   # 54 poetic justice. OH YES INDEED..... 21:44  |  Kath` 25/04/07
  105.   Ben lofs and other bashers 21:49  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  106.   Does Israel want to be Jewish or democratic? 21:55  |  Richard Silverstein 25/04/07
  107.   Labhras 78 22:00  |  FOX 25/04/07
  108.   #27 Joe in Ramallah 22:04  |  american 25/04/07
  109.   to Abu Firas Al Qudsi#72 22:04  |  Ilya 25/04/07
  110.   ISRAEL IS GOING TO THE DOGS.... 22:08  |  Dutch 25/04/07
  111.   Ben Alofs #87 Populist Bull 22:08  |  FOX 25/04/07
  112.   Ahmad????? 22:10  |  m 25/04/07
  113.   # 97 Abu Firas 22:15  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  114.   Poor Brian is offended by "crass remarks" 22:16  |  SLAVO 25/04/07
  115.   to Abu Firas Al Qudsi#99 22:17  |  Ilya 25/04/07
  116.   WAITING FOR JUSTICE Who said it was OK? Where ?Give ALL your 22:21  |  PETER SM 25/04/07
  117.   to roberta #71: we have do representatives.. 22:24  |  Rami 25/04/07
  118.   COL:IN WRIGHT.Thank you for confirming what I thought all along 22:25  |  PETER SM 25/04/07
  119.   Colin Wright and the Scheming Jew # 84 22:25  |  Martin Luther 25/04/07
  120.   Bishara-model citizen 22:30  |  peter 25/04/07
  121.   #106 Mr. Silverstein 22:33  |  American in NY 25/04/07
  122.   Richard Silverstein #106 22:33  |  TonyL 25/04/07
  123.   I`m in Shock ! 22:36  |  DovBer 25/04/07
  124.   how about your sayanim ? 22:40  |  mehmet 25/04/07
  125.   #90 Realistic 22:41  |  American in NY 25/04/07
  126.   Careful! 22:41  |  Ahmad 25/04/07
  127.   Before, during and after the war... 22:44  |  Wendy 25/04/07
  128.   Response to Jake 22:46  |  Omri 25/04/07
  129.   #64 Dutch 22:50  |  American in NY 25/04/07
  130.   Joe in Ramallah # 101 22:54  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  131.   The fellow travellers here prove one thing 22:58  |  PETER SM 25/04/07
  132.   Mehmet # 119 23:06  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  133.   it`s obvious then why israel lost the war 23:06  |  A. R 25/04/07
  134.   Colin Wright #84 Re Scheming Jew - 2nd Try 23:07  |  Martin Luther 25/04/07
  135.   Doris Dutch from Natick, MA 23:08  |  remember me? 25/04/07
  136.   RAMALLAh JOE Commiting treason is the minority alienating 23:10  |  PETER.SM 25/04/07
  137.   #107 Fox 23:23  |  Labhras 25/04/07
  138.   Richard Silverstein # 106 Re Israeli Democracy 23:24  |  Eli 25/04/07
  139.   American in the Catskills 23:25  |  Realistic 25/04/07
  140.   If Bish is a real man, he will stand trial, not run like a coward 23:29  |  Arab Israeli 25/04/07
  141.   Bishara 23:36  |  Avrum 25/04/07
  142.   hi chanah 23:39  |  mehmet 25/04/07
  143.   Abu Firas Al Qudsi: Israel and South Africa facts 23:45  |  Richard S 25/04/07
  144.   A.R. Haifa # 124 23:46  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  145.   # 63 Abu 23:47  |  Lynn 25/04/07
  146.   Realistic 23:53  |  American in NY 25/04/07
  147.   Bishara 00:03  |  Tony Janssen 26/04/07
  148.   Bishara should face TRIAL & DEATH PENALTY for TREASON 00:13  |  amir 26/04/07
  149.   Israel is a totalitarian state? 00:16  |  Fritz 26/04/07
  150.   Heartened by some Arab Israeli posts 00:22  |  Robert 26/04/07
  151.   #108 clueless American and ChanahS 00:24  |  Joe 26/04/07
  152.   #122 Jewish first 00:32  |  American in NY 26/04/07
  153.   Fritzi,Willy Brandt`s secretary was arrested for espionage 00:48  |  Absolute Sweden 26/04/07
  154.   Mehmet # 142 01:07  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  155.   # 60 Abu Firas 01:12  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  156.   To Joe from hopefully the capital of future Pal state #151 01:18  |  TonyL 26/04/07
  157.   Tony Janssen # 147 01:20  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  158.   American in NY - Let Me Confuse You Some Morec 01:37  |  Martin Luther 26/04/07
  159.   For Those Who Hate BiShara: Do You Know What He Calls For? 01:40  |  NEK 26/04/07
  160.   Amazing How The Fritz`s, Axel`s and Wolfgangs 01:45  |  Phinias Whoppy 26/04/07
  161.   Ben Alofs, there`s no `Palestinian Arab community in Israel` 01:45  |  Jake 26/04/07
  162.   # 140 Arab Israeli.If Bish is a real man,he will stand trial,not 01:53  |  Kath` 26/04/07
  163.   Joe of Ramallah # 151 02:00  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  164.   American in NY #152 02:04  |  TonyL 26/04/07
  165.   What would happen if Bishara was a Parlimentarian in an Arab land 02:04  |  PETER. S.M 26/04/07
  166.   NEK # 159 - Read a real book 02:07  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  167.   NEK - You Outdid Yourself With Your Ignorance 02:07  |  Eli 26/04/07
  168.   The talkback lynch mob 02:21  |  Harald S 26/04/07
  169.   #151 Joe re Chanah S #163 02:27  |  Labhras 26/04/07
  170.   just because he`s an Arab 02:27  |  Isaiah 26/04/07
  171.   ChanahS - Best Post Of The Year 02:29  |  Phinias Whoppy 26/04/07
  172.   Alex #25 from Germany. German Morals 02:41  |  Laila 26/04/07
  173.   The Olmert Government Needs 03:08  |  Mark Lincoln 26/04/07
  174.   #169 Labhras 03:14  |  Joe 26/04/07
  175.   Labhras # 169 Re british Soldiers 03:30  |  Phinias Whoppy 26/04/07
  176.   Bishara THIRD TRY 03:31  |  * BEN JABO 26/04/07
  177.   Alex in Germany 03:36  |  * BEN JABO 26/04/07
  178.   ChanahS 03:36  |  TonyL 26/04/07
  179.   Ben Alofs. Read"Why not read Bisharas call for war against Israel 03:46  |  PETER SM 26/04/07
  180.   Labhras #169 03:47  |  TonyL 26/04/07
  181.   Mark Lincoln # 173 04:21  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  182.   Peter SM #165 - What would happen if? 04:23  |  Omran 26/04/07
  183.   Joe - I like it # 175 04:24  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  184.   # 170 Isaiah 04:26  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  185.   # 175 Phineas Whoppy 04:28  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  186.   Labharrass # 169 04:35  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  187.   by the way labharrass 04:37  |  ChanahS 26/04/07
  188.   Not Really Omran - The Question Is Rhetorical 04:44  |  Phinias Whoppy 26/04/07
  189.   OMRAN.You are right what Bihara did IN ISRAEL is alleged treason. 05:03  |  PETER SM 26/04/07
  190.   Which is why Labhras The United Kingdom 05:48  |  Jacob Blues 26/04/07
  191.   BISHARA IS NOT AIDING ENEMIES OF ISRAEL; HE ::IS::THE ENEMY 06:02  |  Jorge 26/04/07
  192.   LABRAHAS The stink of the IRA is still around.Finger pointing 06:24  |  PETER. S.M 26/04/07
  193.   Labhras Exposed 06:33  |  Danite 26/04/07
  194.   Ben Alofs 06:35  |  Danite 26/04/07
  195.   Indeed, shame on you Haaretz 06:51  |  Henry 26/04/07
  196.   Bishara 07:42  |  Aman 26/04/07
  197.   If he comes back try him, if he doesn`t come back kill him 07:42  |  Efox 26/04/07
  198.   Joe #174 - On cheering the home teams 07:45  |  dana 26/04/07
  199.   Labhras on seperation of church and state 09:21  |  FOX 26/04/07
  200.   #175 Phinnias whoppy 10:29  |  Labhras 26/04/07
  201.   #199 fox/danite 10:39  |  Labhras 26/04/07
  202.   Labhras 12:36  |  FOX 26/04/07
  203.   #158 Martin Luther 16:36  |  American in NY 26/04/07
  204.   151 Clueless American 00:40  |  ricardo 27/04/07
  205.   do you what islam says will happen 02:45  |  Avi bernstein 10/05/07
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