Reuters AlertNet Lite - FACTBOX-Five facts about Israeli Arab lawmaker Bishara

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FACTBOX-Five facts about Israeli Arab lawmaker Bishara

22 Apr 2007 13:28:00 GMT
Source: Reuters

April 22 (Reuters) - Israeli Arab legislator Azmi Bishara resigned from parliament on Sunday, under criminal investigation into allegations which have been banned from publication by court order.

The following are five facts about one of Israel's more controversial lawmakers, who said in Cairo he would remain abroad for the time being because of a "racist" climate back home:

*Born a Christian in northern Israel's Nazareth, the city of Jesus's childhood, Bishara, 50, an author with a doctorate in philosophy, went into politics as a teenager when he spearheaded the formation of an Arab students council while in high school.

*Bishara was co-founder of one of Israel's most controversial Arab parties in 1995. Known as Balad, the party objects to Israel being defined as a Jewish state.

*For the 11 years in which he served, Bishara was one of the most outspoken Arab lawmakers in Israel's parliament. He was particularly known for interrupting speeches in the plenum to condemn Israel's occupation of land it captured in the 1967 Middle East war and to accuse it of discriminating against its Arab minority.

*Israeli police announced earlier this month that Bishara was under investigation, but a court issued a gag order on further details. Bishara has been investigated in the past for visiting Arab countries Israel regards as enemies, such as Lebanon and Syria. He was accused several years ago of speaking abroad in support of Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, and has denied charges of publicly condoning violence against Israel.

*Israel's High Court overturned a decision four years ago by the Central Elections Committee to bar Bishara's party from running, arguing this was in violation of democratic process. The committee had charged the party should be disqualified for objecting to Israel's existence as a Jewish state.

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Last updated:Sun Apr 22 13:28:53 2007