Azmi Bishara tendered his resignation as an Israeli Knesset Member and Arab (Balad) party Chairman on Sunday at the Israeli embassy in Cairo.
Bishara said his resignation was due to “an urge… [to] devote more time to contemplative and literary writing.” He fled the country several weeks ago in the face of a criminal investigation by the Israel Police’s international crime investigations unit.
Details of the probe have remained unavailable due to a gag order, which according to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld was to expire on the evening of Sunday, April 22nd, but was extended by the court until Wednesday morning. The fugitive ex-lawmaker said he will stay out of the country because he expects the criminal proceedings against him to continue for at least three years.
Bishara told an Al-Jazeera interviewer last week that he could sit in jail for the crimes for which he is being investigated. He did not specify what he thinks he is suspected of, but accused the General Security Services (Shabak) of a “coordinated attack” against him.
While on the run, Bishara traveled to Lebanon, Jordan, Europe and Qatar before ending his flight in Egypt. Although a fugitive from justice, he continued to receive his salary as an Israeli lawmaker until he officially stepped down Sunday in Cairo.
The former Knesset Member vowed after his resignation not to end his political involvement in Israeli affairs. “I will…always remain in contact,” he told the Al-Jazeera news network. “The fact that I am resigning doesn’t mean I am abandoning Israeli politics,” he said.
The former MK has often called for the destruction of the State of Israel, met with leaders of enemy nations and actively encouraged terrorism against the Jewish nation.
Proposed Law Might Prevent Future ‘Bisharas’
A recently proposed bill would allow Knesset Members to dismiss colleagues who are indicted on criminal charges and refuse to arrive at judicial proceedings.
MK Gilad Erdan (Likud), who proposed the law, said it was meant to prevent a lawmaker who has been indicted from remaining abroad and thereby retaining his Knesset seat and benefits.
In addition to dismissal, the proposal calls for the suspension of salary and benefits of any MK who flees the country while under investigation, as did Bishara. According to the proposal, a petition of 20 MKs may request that the Attorney-General recommend dismissal, which would then have to be approved by 80 MKs.
The Chairman of the National Religious Party, MK Zevulun Orlev, also said, prior to the Passover holiday, that he planned to submit legislation to strip the right to run for the Knesset from one who has visited an enemy country.
Bishara's parliamentary immunity was removed in 2001 after he said, at public gatherings in the Galilee and in Syria, that as a result of Israel's pullout from Lebanon in 2000, "for the first time since 1967 we have tasted victory. Hizbullah is entitled to take pride in its achievement in humiliating Israel."
After he was indicted for supporting a terrorist organization, Bishara petitioned the Supreme Court, which ruled that Bishara's pro-Hizbullah statements were made in the framework of his parliamentary duties. "We must protect MKs' ability to fulfill their duty without fear," the High Court justices ruled.
MK Orlev also planned to submit legislation that would require all MKs to swear allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish and democratic state." MK Orlev said, "I hope that the coalition, which thwarted this elementary piece of legislation six months ago, will realize its mistake this time, in light of the Bishara affair."
Bishara said his resignation was due to “an urge… [to] devote more time to contemplative and literary writing.” He fled the country several weeks ago in the face of a criminal investigation by the Israel Police’s international crime investigations unit.
Details of the probe have remained unavailable due to a gag order, which according to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld was to expire on the evening of Sunday, April 22nd, but was extended by the court until Wednesday morning. The fugitive ex-lawmaker said he will stay out of the country because he expects the criminal proceedings against him to continue for at least three years.
Bishara told an Al-Jazeera interviewer last week that he could sit in jail for the crimes for which he is being investigated. He did not specify what he thinks he is suspected of, but accused the General Security Services (Shabak) of a “coordinated attack” against him.
While on the run, Bishara traveled to Lebanon, Jordan, Europe and Qatar before ending his flight in Egypt. Although a fugitive from justice, he continued to receive his salary as an Israeli lawmaker until he officially stepped down Sunday in Cairo.
The former Knesset Member vowed after his resignation not to end his political involvement in Israeli affairs. “I will…always remain in contact,” he told the Al-Jazeera news network. “The fact that I am resigning doesn’t mean I am abandoning Israeli politics,” he said.
The former MK has often called for the destruction of the State of Israel, met with leaders of enemy nations and actively encouraged terrorism against the Jewish nation.
Proposed Law Might Prevent Future ‘Bisharas’
A recently proposed bill would allow Knesset Members to dismiss colleagues who are indicted on criminal charges and refuse to arrive at judicial proceedings.
MK Gilad Erdan (Likud), who proposed the law, said it was meant to prevent a lawmaker who has been indicted from remaining abroad and thereby retaining his Knesset seat and benefits.
In addition to dismissal, the proposal calls for the suspension of salary and benefits of any MK who flees the country while under investigation, as did Bishara. According to the proposal, a petition of 20 MKs may request that the Attorney-General recommend dismissal, which would then have to be approved by 80 MKs.
The Chairman of the National Religious Party, MK Zevulun Orlev, also said, prior to the Passover holiday, that he planned to submit legislation to strip the right to run for the Knesset from one who has visited an enemy country.
Bishara's parliamentary immunity was removed in 2001 after he said, at public gatherings in the Galilee and in Syria, that as a result of Israel's pullout from Lebanon in 2000, "for the first time since 1967 we have tasted victory. Hizbullah is entitled to take pride in its achievement in humiliating Israel."
After he was indicted for supporting a terrorist organization, Bishara petitioned the Supreme Court, which ruled that Bishara's pro-Hizbullah statements were made in the framework of his parliamentary duties. "We must protect MKs' ability to fulfill their duty without fear," the High Court justices ruled.
MK Orlev also planned to submit legislation that would require all MKs to swear allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish and democratic state." MK Orlev said, "I hope that the coalition, which thwarted this elementary piece of legislation six months ago, will realize its mistake this time, in light of the Bishara affair."
