Azmi Bishara controversy

In the middle of April 2007, a controversy concerning Member of Knesset Azmi Bishara took up a significant place in the Israeli press. Bishara, a veteran and vocal representative of the Israeli Arab community, was suspected of aiding the enemy during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. He left the country after two formal Police hearings. He traveled to Jordan and the Gulf states before formal charges could be brought against him. Rumor had it that he would not return to Israel.

Much was written in both the Hebrew and Arab press. In Haaretz an article by Bradley Burston titled “We like our Arabs to be traitors” appeared on the 14^th of April. I took issue with it and sent a letter-to-the-editor which was not published.

To the editor, Haaretz:

Sir

I think that Bradley Burston (We like our Arabs to be traitors 14/04) has inverted the appropriate mantra describing Azmi Bishara in our political system. In place of “If Azmi Bishara had never existed, the right would have had to invent him. I suggest a less politically correct but more accurate statement would be: “If the Israel Right did not exist Bishara would have had to work harder than he already has to insure its existence, in order to justify his own.

Bisahra claims to be a Democrat & Liberal, but no, he is an opportunist, hypocrite coward and bully. How else to explain his standing in public in Syria to honor the dictator Hafez Assad, who was responsible for the killing of 25,000 unarmed Syrian Arab men women and children in the city of Hamra in 1982! What prey tell, is the need for a degree in philosophy to justify that brave behavior. To kiss up to power takes no courage or integrity

Only an opportunist and a sycophant would have taken that opportunity to praise a leader so brutal to Arab people.

Only a coward has the guts to attack the smallest, most venerable state in the area. The only state in the Middle Eeast against which he is safe to express his rage, anger and hatred.

Only a hypocrite has the effrontery to complain of a lack of democracy after belittling that democracy by saying that he cared not for democracy but only for Palestine.

If as Burston writes, “The right can not afford to loose Bishara”, neither can those Arab citizens of Israel who desire to live here in equality and dignity afford to keep him. And not only because “He is subversive beyond its wildest dreams.” But because he generates and stimulates hatred where ever speaks.

If we are to talk of Avigdor Lieberman, he is as big a danger to me as he is to Bishara, only I will not contribute to his prominence as Burston claims Bishara does.

Bishara is a problem because he detracts and distracts us from dealing with our real problems and pathologies. Like a spoiled child, he can not abide the idea that he is not at the central of our concerns. In his world view our only purpose in being here is steal from him and to make him miserable. As far as he is concerned, our whole existence revolves around him and his community. (394)