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Balad MK Said Nafaa. (Jini Archives) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 23:21 10/12/2007 Rights group asks Mazuz to halt probe into Druze MK who visited Syria By Or Kashti and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents, and Haaretz Service Tags: Balad, Syria, Nafaa, Mazuz A civil liberties organization asked Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to immediately halt the investigation into Balad MK Said Nafaa, over his September visit to Syria in defiance of a ban on visits by MKs to enemy states. The chairman of the public committee for the protection of civil liberties, which operates within the framework of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, said Nafaa's visit falls within the framework of legitimate and transparent political activity. "This activity stem from the Arab population's basic and natural right to contact and visit Arab countries," he wrote, adding that "the State of Israel seeks to isolate its Arab population from the Palestinians and the Arab world. Advertisement Police questioned Nafaa for three hours Sunday, focusing also on his 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. 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: Police question Druze MK who visited Damascus, met Syria VP MK Nafaa ignores gov't travel ban, arrives in Syria for a visit 3 Israeli journalists probed over travel to enemy states Bookmark to del.icio.us Talking too much Censor: IDF officers provided the press with classified information during the war. Intelligent estimate? Rosner's Domain analyzes the U.S. intelligence estimate on Iran's nuclear program.   1.   Rights group? What righs group? Theyre a political group 20:53  |  SLAVO 10/12/07   2.   As an Israeli-Arab, i care less about "link with Syrian ppl" 21:26  |  Rami 10/12/07   3.   By now the words `rights group` are enough to make me vomit 21:44  |  A Jew 10/12/07   4.   what group of nuts are these? investigate them 22:45  |  ralph 10/12/07   5.   What do the Druze Leaders have to say? 23:15  |  Slibovitz 10/12/07   6.   As usual the rules should be different for arabs 23:45  |  smarter then Shimon 10/12/07   7.   Where do they make up these "rights"? 00:57  |  McQueen 11/12/07   8.   They should be allowed to visit any Arab country 01:44  |  Yoav Naor 11/12/07

Today Online Burston: Hamas - If we can kill them, we can talk to them Responses: 116 Russia said trying to lure Russian olim back home Responses: 171 Akiva Eldar: Building in E. J'lem undermines spirit of Annapolis Responses: 150 Religious party leader: Same-sex families undermine Judaism Responses: 56 Military censor: IDF revealed classified data during war Responses: 36 Rosner's Domain New Guest: "we neither require nor request Israel's permission to fight for Jerusalem" The CIA's brain drain (WTR) Poll: Democratic favorite for 2008? Jervis & Cohen discuss the flaws of the Iran NIE More Headlines 23:24 Sarkozy hosts Netanyahu, backs new UN sanctions on Iran 20:28 Germany frees Iranian whose release was tied to info on Ron Arad 01:22 U.K. pledges $500M in aid to PA if peace process successful 23:22 Ex-J'lem Post publisher Conrad Black gets 6.5 years in jail for fraud 02:04 Study finds Maine has highest intermarriage rate in U.S. 21:48 Censor: IDF revealed classified data during Second Lebanon War 18:28 Egypt uncovers 500 kilograms of explosives in northern Sinai 19:10 Heirs of Holocaust victims could claim up to NIS 200M in assets 21:42 UN calls for action to end fuel shortage aggravating Gaza health crisis Previous Editions Select Day 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov

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