Arab party founder, accused of Hezbollah spying, reportedly given US visa
He fled Israel in 2007 on suspicion of aiding and passing information to Hezbollah, including during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. He is currently wanted for questioning by police.
By YOSSI MELMANUpdated: OCTOBER 9, 2016 14:25Former Balad MK Azmi Bishara(photo credit: TWITTER)
Former MK Azmi Bishara, who fled Israel after being charged with treason, was reportedly awarded a visa to the US, the Washington Free Beacon reported Thursday.The news site reported that Bishara is among the speakers at the Arab Center Washington, DC's first annual conference, titled "Democracy in the Arab World: The Obama Legacy & Beyond." It will take place on October 14 at the city's JW Marriott Hotel, blocks away from the White House.On their website, Bishara is listed as the general director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in QatarThe State Department refused to comment on the matter or explain why he was given the visa.Bishara founded the Arab Knesset party Balad and served as its leader in the Knesset.He fled Israel in 2007 on suspicion of aiding and passing information to Hezbollah, including during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. He is currently wanted for questioning by Israel Police.He resigned from the Knesset at the Israeli Embassy in Cairo in 2007 and has since settled in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The Knesset then passed a law revoking MKs’ pensions if they have evaded investigation or trial for serious offenses.
