Azmi Bishara: the Palestinian / ex-Israeli MK

By now, most of you have heard of Azmi Bishara. If not, Dr. Bishara is the Head of the National Democratic Assembly political party in Israel, a Christian Palestinian and a citizen of Israel who USED to represents Israel's Palestinian minority in the Knesset until few days ago.

In this remarkable 30 minutes speech presented at the City Club couple of years ago, Bishara discusses the last question of colonialism and its distinctive features that make it unique.

The talk is followed by another 20 minutes of heated question and answer exchange with the audience, however, the most important part of the whole thing from my point of view are the definitions, which he represented from a Palestinian point of view for terms like Conflict, Terrorism, Colonialism, Occupation, Liberation, Revolution, History, Violence, Targeting Civilians, Bad Guys, Liberal Occupation, Superiority, Demographic bomb, Racism, Right to Exist, Fundamentalism etc...

Watch this:

Few days ago, Danny Rubinstein wrote at Haaretz saying:

Is Bishara the 'Palestinian Herzl'?

The recent affair concerning the criminal investigation of MK Azmi Bishara, the Israeli Arab Balad party chairman who has left the country, has spawned a multitude of journalistic reports and commentaries. Palestinian political commentator Hassan al-Batal went as far as to write that the lawmaker "could have become the Palestinian Herzl," referring to the founder of Zionism.

The Arab media as a whole have applauded him. A journalist from the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat interviewed a young woman from southern Lebanon, who predicted that Bishara would one day become president of the Palestinian state. He reminded her that Bishara was a member of the Israeli Knesset, and that he belonged to the Palestinian Christian minority. She was unfazed, insisting that he was the best choice precisely because of his intimate knowledge of "Zionist fascism."

And he concluded by saying:

In this case, the struggle in store for the Arabs of the occupied territories would be directed to achieving equal rights and equality within the State of Israel. This would include establishing full unity between them and the Arab Israeli minority - a unity that does not exist today. If that happens, then who knows what will occur: Azmi Bishara could very well go down in history as the "Palestinian Herzl."

Bishara studies at Humboldt University in Germany, is head of the philosophy department at Bir Zeit University, and is senior researcher at the Van-Leer Institute in Jerusalem.

Israelis as well Palestinians need a leader like this man. A humanist, a democrat and a liberal man who can lead both people to peace. He has all the ingredients . He is not Jew, he is not Muslim, he is Israeli by nationality, Palestinian by origin, and he knows what it takes to make peace in the Holy Land.

Cross posted at Sabbah's Blog

•  I'll be really surprised

  to see any comments before 52 minutes (total video duration) from the time of publishing this. Take your time to listen first.

  by Sabbah on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:08:24 AM PDT

  •  Recommend

    that everyone watch this video of Azmi Bishara speaking before the Cleveland City Club.  He defines terms such as "conflict," "occupation," "demographics," etc. very well. Really deconstructs common stereotypes.  

    by umkahlil on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:48:44 AM PDT

    •  Must wait until tonight

      when I have high-speed access.  I am familiar with what is part of the content, though, namely the explanation of how things are for "the other side" if you will, word by word.

      Thanks so much for posting link - I had wanted to attend this event and had to tend to other matters, very disappointing.  I'd also been following the Israeli wingers, wondering what they'd come up with or allege.

      Not that this is the only investigation there - good grief, what's with that government lately?  They're sounding more and more American.

      by Nastja Polisci on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 12:55:14 PM PDT

  •  why would you be surprised?

    look at the history of the "first responders". Do you not see a pattern here?

    by Cabaret Voltaire on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 11:21:17 AM PDT

  •  Thanks for the diary Sabbah!

    I heard an interesting piece about Bishara on NPR yesterday.  From Egypt, he has resigned his seat as an MP, saying he is not sure when he will be returning to Israel.  He was identified as a Christian from Nazareth.

    by Rusty Pipes on Thu Apr 26, 2007 at 10:50:00 AM PDT

•  Provocative Diary needs fuller summary....

  Suggest diarist take the time to write an extensive addendum to his diary, with the key points of Bishari's speech.  It is easier, if you could find a transcript.

  I am interested but do not have the time to devote to watching the entire segment.

  A question, what is his religious background.  You say he is not a Muslim.  Wouldn't this be a rule out, the same as avowing Christianity for this country and Judaism for Israel are virtual requirements?

  by arodb on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:18:31 AM PDT

  •  Ditto

    I'm at work, so can't really listen to a speech over the computer. I'm interested in what he has to say though.

    I realize it's a pain in the hindquarters to go through the speech and note down all his points, so even some summarized highlights would be appreciated.

    by Paul in Berkeley on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:46:56 AM PDT

  •  Not necessarily

    A question, what is his religious background.  You say he is not a Muslim.  Wouldn't this be a rule out, the same as avowing Christianity for this country and Judaism for Israel are virtual requirements?

    While Christians are a clear minority in the WB, you'll find them peppered throughout both government (mainly in Fatah, some in protest parties) and the private sector.  And education & medicine.

    The fallout after Hamas won the last election has made them less appealing as a party.  Most Palestinians are just so tired and discouraged.  They really just want their representatives to be pro-Palestine, pro-Arab, and not use money meant for infrastructure in private investments....

    by Nastja Polisci on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 01:14:31 PM PDT

•  Herz? Or, Benedict Arnold?

  From Ha'aretz: Bishara suspected of aiding enemies during Second Lebanon War:

  Former MK Azmi Bishara is suspected of acting against the security of the State of Israel during the Second Lebanon War, according to details of the investigation against him released Wednesday after a court partially lifted a gag order on the probe.

  The suspicions include aiding Israel's enemies during wartime, passing intelligence to the enemy, contacts with foreign agents, some of which allegedly took place during the Second Lebanon War.

  Bishara is also suspected of breaking the law against money laundering, by allegedly personally receiving large amounts of money from abroad, some of which was transferred during the war last year.

  Yediot Ahronot reports:

  Bishara dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and drummed up to avert the public's attention from Israel's leadership crisis following the results of the Second Lebanon War.

  Also:

  For months, the Shin Bet and the Police International Investigation Unit have been conducting an investigation against the Balad chairman, on suspicion he passed information to a foreign agent. At the center of the case are large sums of money investigators believe Bishara received from a foreign agent in return for his services.

  Bishara was questioned twice in the case and during the last encounter he told interrogators that he intends to leave Israel for a couple of days. He said he would attend a third questioning session soon upon his return to Israel. When Bishara failed to show up, investigators forwarded the questioning session to April 22, under instructions from Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.

  The Jerusalem Post identifies the foreign entity as Hizbullah.

  by another American on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:26:28 AM PDT

  •  Yikes

    Israel is clearly scared of Bishara.  These are standard tactics in any security state for dealing with  dangerous internal dissent (and Israeli security has already listed Arabs in Israel as a strategic threat).  The only thing missing is the accusation that he had sex with children or animals.  But I'm sure those will be coming if these don't smear him enough.

    Separately, Tom Delay just accused Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid of treason.  We should problem damn them, too.

    by weasel on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:33:26 AM PDT

    •  Do you have some evidence for your speculation?

      Or, when it comes to Israel, isn't that required?

      by another American on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:36:30 AM PDT

      •  Which speculation is that?

        That Israel is scared?  They called the Arabs within Israel a strategic threat.
        That security states often use trumped up charges to silence internal critics?  There is so much history I won't insult the readers by dredging it up.

        As for your "Benedict Arnold," note that Israel has been investigating Bishara for at least three months (taking us back to the time they declared Arabs an internal threat and when they were (and still are) looking for scapegoats for their failures in Lebanon).  However, all they have come up with so far iare "suspicions."

        So, it appears that you are the one acting entirely without evidence.  But as you point out, "when it comes to Israel," you don't seem to require it.

        by weasel on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:45:21 AM PDT

•  Notice of tag editing.

  I added the tag "Azmi Bishara".

  by another American on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:37:20 AM PDT

•  Sabbah, I have a question for you

  Ignoring for a moment whether Bishara is the Pied Piper, or just a traitor, my question is:

  If you are actually interested in peace for the Palestinians and the Jews, why do you proudly link to this?

  by dfb1968 on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:52:30 AM PDT

  •  dfb1968 is referring to the blogroll

    available at sabbah's website and here at DKos.

    by another American on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 10:59:35 AM PDT

•  Bishara is anti-peace...

  He explicitly rejects Israel's right to exist as a democratic and Jewish state.  He actually SUPPORTED attacks on Israel by Hezbollah and others.  Remarkably, he refused to add his name to a group of MK's who called on Hezbollah to release the Israeli prisoners.

  That's not pro-peace, that's pro-war.  No amount of Orwellian.  No amount of Orwellian doublespeak from our diarist can change that.

  Now, Bishara stands accused of actually taking millions of dollars from states in a declared state of war with Israel.  Many, many Jewish Israeli MKs have gone to jail for a hell of a lot less.

  Israel's democracy has been remarkably open in that it allows exclusivist Arab parties such as Bishara's to hold seats in the Knesset.  The right wing has always made the claim that these MKs are a fifth column.  I have always dismissed such claims as inflammatory and fear-mongering.  But sadly, in this case, it appears that they are right.

  Bishara fled Israel not because he was persecuted, but because he was caught.

  by JPhurst on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 11:12:06 AM PDT