Israeli Lawmakers Travel Illegally To Syria
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Arab members of Israel's Knesset gathered Friday in Damascus, despite the fact Syria is still technically at war with their own nation. Visiting an enemy nation is a violation of Israeli law. But that hasn't stopped a member of Knesset, Azmi Bishara and members of his Balad Party from making the trip several times over the past decade. Friday's visit was seen as a protest against Israel's role in the recent Lebanon war, and statements this week by the government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that conditions were not right for peace with Syria. Balad MK Jamal Zahalka told Israel Radio from Damascus, "We don't see Syria as an enemy state." On Thursday, Olmert told visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that if Syria was serious about peace, it would stop offering safe haven and aid to violent anti-Israel terrorist organizations, such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Right-wing lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman was quoted by Ha'aretz as saying the Balad members' appearance in Damascus was the equivalent of an "act of espionage." Political activist Avi Farhan filed an official complaint with police over the Arab MKs' trip, demanding their arrest and interrogation upon returning to Israel. Farhan told Ynet, "The Arab MKs have to be investigated for going to an enemy country and providing assistance to the en |
