With Bishara in exile, Balad faces political extinction

The Amman home in which former Knesset member and Balad chairman Azmi Bishara is residing has become a pilgrimage site. Last week, seven Balad-affiliated academics paid him a visit, and three Balad MKs were scheduled to meet with him yesterday. Since Bishara resigned from the Knesset and distanced himself from Israel, avoiding a possible arrest on charges of aiding an enemy during war, the Balad party has been left with many unresolved issues. At the top of the list is the question of party leadership.

Balad, Israel's third largest Arab party, has entered uncharted waters. Members and affiliates, as well as political rivals interviewed for this report, were all in agreement: The party is trying to find its way out of its most serious crisis.

Activists who describe themselves as being part of the Arab "national camp," and who support Balad without being members, are highly critical of the situation in the party today.

They say that factional interests have taken over a party that claimed, as part of its political platform, to reorganize the Arab community in Israel along national lines. The minute Bishara and his charismatic leadership were far from the party, the glue unifying disparate elements dissipated, activists say.

At the head of one faction is MK Wasil Taha, who those in the know say enjoys the broadest support in the Balad party Central Committee. In his camp are MK Said Naffaa and attorney Riad Anis.

Their greatest opposition comes from MK Jamal Zahalka, who chairs the faction in the Knesset and enjoys the support of Bishara loyalists.

According to party sources, the fact that two of Bishara's close associates, Basal Ratem and Hanin Zuabi, were not elected to the party's central committee at the party conference two months ago, is indicative of the strength and influence of Taha's faction.

However, other sources in Balad deny factionalism exists. "There is no factionalism and deals [in the party], only democratic selection," a leading activist told Haaretz.

"I am not saying that all the results are a perfect fit with what everyone wants, but that is the nature of democracy," he added.

Other veteran activists say that the state of emergency in the party has served as a catalyst to invigorate passive members and affiliates who have rallied to contribute to Balad.

"Whoever thinks he can inherit Balad's [leadership] will be seriously mistaken. No one will inherit us," said former MK and current Central Committee member Mohammed Miari.

However, it is evident in opinion polls that most people identify the party with Bishara and all agree it will be difficult to promote the party in his absence.

A major concern is that Balad may not be able to gain sufficient support in the next elections to cross the voting threshold, expected to rise above the current 2.5 percent.

In its search for possible partners, Balad signaled to its major rival, Hadash, that it may turn to unexpected corners of the political spectrum. In University of Haifa student council elections, Balad turned to the Islamic Movement's northern branch, while in the Histadrut Labor Federation elections for the Nazareth district, they allied with Labor.