#1 Israeli Arab resigns from Knesset
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:10 am
BBC
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Israeli Arab MP Azmi Bishara has resigned, weeks after leaving the country amid a police investigation into unspecified criminal allegations.
He tendered his resignation at the Israeli embassy in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, and said he would stay abroad for a while.
Mr Bishara is an outspoken critic of policies toward the Palestinians
He leads the National Democratic Assembly (Balad), which has three members in the 120-seat Knesset.
"Exile is not an option. Return is definite but the matter will take some time and arrangements, I want to set the rules of the game," Mr Bishara told the Arab news channel al-Jazeera.
"I have commitments now with other countries which I cannot make if I were there. This is why I decided to end my responsibilities with my former post."
Mr Bishara, 50, says he is the victim of a political conspiracy.
He entered parliament in 1996 and three years later became the first Arab Israeli to run for prime minister.
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