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Today, 25 April, the Israeli Magistrate's Court in Petah Tikva partially
lifted a gag order that was imposed on the ongoing legal investigation against
Azmi Bishara.
The request to lift the gag order was made by MK Jamal Zahalka of
Bishara's Balad party along with several Israeli media sources. They asked for
an immediate end to the gag order.
The police, however, were calling for an extension of the gag order.
The month-old gag order had banned publication of any details of the
police investigation.
Bishara, who was leader of the National Democratic Assembly Party (BALAD),
has been abroad the past month. He submitted his resignation from the Knesset
at the Israeli embassy in Cairo
on 21 April, accusing authorities of persecuting him for his strident criticism
of the Jewish state.
According to the details that have been released, the suspicions include
aiding Israel's enemies during wartime, passing intelligence to the enemy and
contacts with foreign agents, some of which the information alleges, took place
during the 34 day Second Lebanon War.
In addition to these accusations, Bishara is also alleged to have
laundered money, by personally receiving large amounts of money from abroad, some
of which was transferred during the war.
These allegations, threaten to further polarize Israel’s Jews
and minority Arabs, who make up around 23 percent of the population and have
suffered from second-class status since the state was established six decades
ago.
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