The Knesset this morning voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of Arab Knesset Member Azmi Bishara, clearing the way for the filing of a criminal indictment against him.
On July 1, 2001 the Israel police recommended filing criminal charges against Bishara for statements at a Syrian state memorial ceremony in which he called upon leaders of Arab nations to increase their resistance against Israel. The MK\'s anti-Israel tirade was delivered in front of hundreds of Syrian officials and broadcast on Arab television on June 10th. The National Religious Party demanded that Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein declare Bishara\'s Balad party a terrorist organization. Police said that Bishara should be charged with incitement, cooperating with an enemy nation, furnishing information to a hostile nation and other related offenses. Bishara rejected the recommendation, saying that he has made the same statements many times in the past.
Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit today said that there is a limit to freedom of speech, and when a member of parliament who has pledged loyalty to the State of Israel stands up and calls for increased warfare against the Jewish State, he has crossed the lines. Minister Sheetrit compared Bishara\'s statements to a US senator calling for Bin Ladin to increase attacks against America.
The vote pertaining to Bishara\'s above-mentioned passed by a 65-29 margin. Regarding another comment which the Arab MK made in support of terrorist organizations, the vote to remove his immunity passed today by a margin of 61-30.
On July 1, 2001 the Israel police recommended filing criminal charges against Bishara for statements at a Syrian state memorial ceremony in which he called upon leaders of Arab nations to increase their resistance against Israel. The MK\'s anti-Israel tirade was delivered in front of hundreds of Syrian officials and broadcast on Arab television on June 10th. The National Religious Party demanded that Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein declare Bishara\'s Balad party a terrorist organization. Police said that Bishara should be charged with incitement, cooperating with an enemy nation, furnishing information to a hostile nation and other related offenses. Bishara rejected the recommendation, saying that he has made the same statements many times in the past.
Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit today said that there is a limit to freedom of speech, and when a member of parliament who has pledged loyalty to the State of Israel stands up and calls for increased warfare against the Jewish State, he has crossed the lines. Minister Sheetrit compared Bishara\'s statements to a US senator calling for Bin Ladin to increase attacks against America.
The vote pertaining to Bishara\'s above-mentioned passed by a 65-29 margin. Regarding another comment which the Arab MK made in support of terrorist organizations, the vote to remove his immunity passed today by a margin of 61-30.