People
BISHARA, Azmi -- Former Member of Knesset
Azmi Bishara is a member of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, since 1996. He was born in 1956 in Nazareth. He is the founder and first chairman of the National Committee of Arab High School Students, the founder of the Arab Students Union in Israel, the founder of the National Democratic Assembly and former head of the Philosophy department of Birzeit University. (Added 12 November 2003)

On 7 November 2001, the Israeli Knesset voted to lift the immunity of Member of Knesset (MK) Dr. Azmi Bishara, head of the National Democratic Assembly party. This move came at the request of Attorney General Elyakim Rubenstein, in order to initiate criminal prosecution. It was the first time that a Member of the Knesset was stripped of his immunity because of political statements he made. On 1 April 2003, the Nazareth Magistrate Court dismissed the indictment filed against MK Bishara in connection with the Syrian visits case.

On 15 April 2007 Bishara appeared on Al-Jazeera, after weeks of press speculation that he had gone into exile and would resign from the Knesset. He revealed that in fact he is the target of a very high level probe by Israeli state security services who apparently plan to bring serious "security" related charges against him. The interview was aired several hours after an Israeli court released for publication the fact that an investigation is being conducted against him. Bishara ultimately resigned in late April.


The Persecution of Azmi Bishara
  • Why Israel is after me, Azmi Bishara (3 May 2007)
  • Carry on your struggle: Open letter to Azmi Bishara, Juliano Mer Khamis (30 April 2007)
  • What the persecution of Azmi Bishara means for Palestine, Ali Abunimah (16 April 2007)
  • Israeli party leader Avigdor Lieberman calls for Arab MKs to be executed, I'lam (11 May 2006)
  • Supreme Court Dismisses Criminal Charges Against Knesset Member Azmi Bishara, Adalah (14 February 2006)
  • Supreme Court: Azmi Bishara's Parliamentary Immunity Must be Resolved Pre-Trial, Adalah (8 November 2004)
  • First hearing Supreme Court in political speech case, Azmi Bishara, Adalah (7 November 2004)
  • Special Report: The State of Israel v. MK Azmi Bishara
  • Israeli Court will decide in Azmi Bishara's political speeches case, Adalah (11 November 2003)
  • Court dismisses the indictment against MK Azmi Bishara, Adalah (2 April 2003)
  • Supreme Court of Israel ruled to reject ban on Palestinian political parties, Adalah (9 January 2003)
  • Supreme Court hearings today on appeal against NDA disqualification, Adalah (7 January 2003)
  • Adalah files an appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision to disqualify Palestinian MK's, Adalah (4 January 2003)
  • My brother's fight for democracy, Marwan Bishara, The Guardian (31 December 2002)
  • Where is the democracy here?, Aeyal Gross, ICDAB (27 December 2002)


    Multimedia
  • Interview: Azmi Bishara, Alternate Focus (20 September 2006)


    Hunger strike
  • Hunger strike against Israel's Apartheid Wall enters fourth day (6 July 2004)
  • Azmi Bishara on Hunger Strike Protesting the Construction of Israel's Separation Wall (4 July 2004)


    Elections
  • Arab MKs again face investigations and threats of disqualification in run-up to Israeli elections, I'lam (4 March 2006)
  • Special Report: Elections 2003: Threats to Arab Political Participation
  • PIN: The Upcoming Elections in Israel, Yoav Peled, MERIP, 113 (December 2002)


    Related Links
  • BY TOPIC: Palestinians in Israel


    Websites
  • The International Committee for the Defense of Azmi Bishara


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