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Azmi Bishara speaking to reporters outisde the Arab League headquarters in Cairo on Sunday. (AP)
Last update - 00:00 25/04/2007
Court partially lifts gag order on Bishara probe
Bishara suspected of aiding enemies during Second Lebanon War
By Yoav Stern and Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondents, and AP

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Responding to the allegations, Bishara told Al-Jazeera television "the accusations against me are an attempt to frighten me and my constituents."

"The establishment in Israel is trying to turn personal and political connections with political sources in Arab countries to violations against the security of the state," he said.

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) said that should Bishara be tried, the trial ought to be carried out in public for all those operating as a "fifth column" within the state.

MK Gilad Erdan (Likud) said Bishara should be treated as an escaped criminal. Erdan said he would work to nullify benefits Bishara receives as a former Knesset member.

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) called on Interior Minister Roni Bar-On to invalidate Bishara's citizenship immediately.

Yishai said Bishara is an example of someone who "took advantage of his citizenship to harm the citizens of Israel and is therefore not fit to be a citizen."

MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) called on Bishara to return to Israel and turn himself in to authorities.

"As he knew how to do so well on the Knesset platform, he must also address these suspicions against him," he said.

MK Wasil Taha, of Bishara's own Balad party, called the accusations "nonsensical and false. Bishara denied them during investigation and we are denying them today. Their only purpose is to use Bishara as a scapegoat, to incite public opinion regarding everything dealing with Israel's failure in the [Lebanon] war, and to cover up those failings."

On Wednesday, Petah Tikva Magistrates Court ordered a partial lifting of the gag order on details of the investigation into Bishara.

The court is expected to lift the gag entirely by the end of the week.

The request, made Wednesday by Haaretz and other media sources, along with MK Jamal Zahalka of Bishara's Balad party, asked for an immediate end to the gag order. The police, meanwhile, were planning to ask for its extension.

Initially, the existence of the investigation itself was also subject to a gag order.

The Balad chairman resigned from the Knesset earlier this week ago at Israel's embassy in Cairo. The resignation took effect Tuesday, 48 hours after it reached the desk of Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik.

Bishara has been traveling in the Arab world, but has said that he will return to Israel. On Wednesday, he told the London-based Arabic language newspaper A-Shark al-Awsat that he does not intend to settle in one of the Arab countries.
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  1.   Whatever the ruling may be, Bishara should not be permitted to 09:57  |  Avihu 25/04/07
  2.   Restrict the usage of gag orders during investigation. 14:14  |  H.H.M 25/04/07
  3.   shame on You Haarez 15:02  |  deborah 25/04/07
  4.   Bishara`s citizenship should be taken away from him, and only 15:04  |  Avihu 25/04/07
  5.   Why did the Israeli`s let him run away? 15:17  |  Zev 25/04/07
  6.   No wonder he is hiding and doesn`t want to return to Israel 15:24  |  Joe 25/04/07
  7.   He could be hanged for that 15:28  |  the Law 25/04/07
  8.   most of Israeli Arabs are like Bishara 15:30  |  the sad truth 25/04/07
  9.   Now that we know more about this case, Israel should not 15:53  |  Avihu 25/04/07
  10.   an angry and hateful man 15:55  |  pete 25/04/07
  11.   The bright side... 15:55  |  bat yam 25/04/07
  12.   to `the sad truth` and the rest of you 15:58  |  by gum 25/04/07
  13.   An Arab country would have hung him 16:01  |  Semsem 25/04/07
  14.   Shame on you deborah for failing your "comprehention of written 16:12  |  Mufasa 25/04/07
  15.   He should stand trial and be allowed to defend himself 16:15  |  Rami 25/04/07
  16.   The Persecution of Bishara 16:16  |  Bill 25/04/07
  17.   HHM, Jerusalem 16:24  |  leon 25/04/07
  18.   to # 8: the sadder truth is you are damn wrong 16:25  |  Rami 25/04/07
  19.   if proven strip citizenship stop all payments arrest for trial 16:34  |  ralph 25/04/07
  20.   Bishara is the epitome of a true palestinian 16:48  |  Chick Corea 25/04/07
  21.   To Avihu, No. 4 16:49  |  The Judge 25/04/07
  22.   To Rami #10 16:59  |  Curious Jew 25/04/07
  23.   and if not?! He fraternized with the enemy during war - 4 years ! 16:59  |  redmike 25/04/07
  24.   a few bad apples spoil the lot 17:00  |  rob 25/04/07
  25.   Bishara aims to live in a democratic country 17:00  |  Alex 25/04/07
  26.   #13 - I believe you - see my earlier post. 17:01  |  redmike 25/04/07
  27.   Guilty by bloodline, another example of a persecuted minority 17:03  |  Joe 25/04/07
  28.   #13, the saddest truth 17:07  |  Alex 25/04/07
  29.   Rami`s Correct 17:07  |  Eli 25/04/07
  30.   the same 17:07  |  israeli arab 25/04/07
  31.   bishara; shame on you for doing the Israeli politicians national 17:08  |  DOV KORET 25/04/07
  32.   bring him by interpol 17:11  |  Ahmed 25/04/07
  33.   # 13 Rami re # 8 17:13  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  34.   redmike re Jamal Zahalka 17:17  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  35.   I agree with Rami 17:19  |  Omri 25/04/07
  36.   Bishara: `I am a son of Palestine and Greater Syria` 17:20  |  Chick Corea 25/04/07
  37.   Alex needs reeducation (not in the `classic` German sense tho...) 17:20  |  Sean 25/04/07
  38.   Sick to have a traitor in parliament 17:26  |  Johnny 25/04/07
  39.   #21 Alex - Let me suggest a few democratic countries for Bishara 17:31  |  Yonatan 25/04/07
  40.   #1 Avihu 17:32  |  Labhras 25/04/07
  41.   arab israeli`s = muslim settlers 17:39  |  momo 25/04/07
  42.   @"The Judge", #17 17:45  |  Citizen 25/04/07
  43.   ha ha ha 17:47  |  Pierre 25/04/07
  44.   The good old security excuse is back 17:48  |  Yuval 25/04/07
  45.   to No. 17 17:48  |  Esther 25/04/07
  46.   Wake up call 17:49  |  DovBer 25/04/07
  47.   If accusations proven, he should be tried for high treason. 17:51  |  Fortuna Benmayor 25/04/07
  48.   Joe - very funny indeed 18:00  |  ChanahS 25/04/07
  49.   # 11 by gum 18:07  |  Lynn 25/04/07
  50.   Joe: try fact checking 18:08  |  Richard S 25/04/07
  51.   Comptroller calls for criminal probe into PM for corruption 18:12  |  Roy 25/04/07
  52.   Omri, I agree with Rami but not with you 18:25  |  Jake 25/04/07
  53.   Bishara 18:27  |  Erik 25/04/07
  54.   pierre & ha ha ha 18:34  |  poetic justice 25/04/07
  55.   I support Israel 18:35  |  Tami 25/04/07
  56.   #41 momo 18:37  |  Eitan 25/04/07
  57.   You mean treason? 18:42  |  Omar 25/04/07
  58.   # 46 DovBer from ny 18:44  |  Lynn 25/04/07
  59.   Response to Jake 18:49  |  Omri 25/04/07
  60.   Pathetic charges 19:01  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 25/04/07
  61.   And for this nonsense there had to be a gag order? 19:12  |  Suspicious Jew 25/04/07
  62.   Avihu 19:14  |  Roberto 25/04/07
  63.   Azmi is right to resign 19:16  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 25/04/07
  64.   Israel`s Tribal Mindset... 19:17  |  Dutch 25/04/07
  65.   God only knows what secrets this sack of dirt gave his brethren 19:19  |  SLAVO 25/04/07
  66.   Does anyone know anything yet? 19:25  |  NYrker 25/04/07
  67.   Omri, fair enough, Bishara need not be tried 19:28  |  Jake 25/04/07
  68.   Joe 19:37  |  Mike 25/04/07
  69.   Bishara 19:39  |  Vadim 25/04/07
  70.   This Makes Him Even More of a Hero Among the Meretz Morons 19:46  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/04/07
  71.   not all israeli arabs are like bishara