Police question Druze MK who visited Damascus, met Syria VP - Haaretz

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Sun., December 09, 2007 Kislev 29, 5768

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Last update - 17:02 09/12/2007

Police question Druze MK who visited Damascus, met Syria VP

By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Israel, Said Nafaa, Syria

Police questioned Balad MK Said Nafaa for three hours Sunday, over the Druze lawmakers visit to Syria in September in defiance of a ban on visits by MKs to enemy states.

Investigators also questioned Nafaa over ties to Palestinian spokesmen, who complemented Balad during the party's recent conference in Shfaram against the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference on Middle East peace.

Nafaa's office said at the time that the visit, as part of a delegation of Druze religious leaders, was aimed at strengthening ties between Israeli and Syrian Druze, as well as improving links between Israeli Arabs and the Syrian people.

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Investigators focused on two aspects, including to extent Nafaa assisted the Druze religious leaders in their visit, as well as his role in arranging passage through Jordan. The second aspect was his meetings with senior Syrian officials, including Vice President Farouk Shara and Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

Nafaa, who may be questioned again, said the questioning only strengthened his belief that the investigation into him is politically motivated.

"I am an MK and political figure and it is very important to me to hear what the Syrian administration is saying, and what their positions are on issues such as war and peace," said Nafaa. "It was essential that I meet with them."

The MK added that, should he be charged over the visit, he will forfeit his immunity and be prepared to stand trial.

Related articles:

MK Nafaa ignores gov't travel ban, arrives in Syria for a visit

3 Israeli journalists probed over travel to enemy states

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