Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DOHA433
2007-04-29 04:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
FORMER ARAB KNESSET MEMBER BISHARA SPEAKS AT DOHA DEMOCRACY
how-tonull sdohasntsc 05/17/2007 07:45:43 AM From DB/Inbox: APR07 Archive Cable Text: UNCLAS DOHA 00433 SIPDIS CXDOHA: ACTION: P/E INFO: AMB PAO DCM RAO FCS DISSEMINATION: P/E /2 CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:MRATNEY DRAFTED: P/E:SELHABASH CLEARED: P/E:RPYOTT VZCZCDOI469 RR RUEHC RUEHXK DE RUEHDO #0433 1190434 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 290434Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6532 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS DOHA 000433
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IS KPAL QA
SUBJECT: FORMER ARAB KNESSET MEMBER BISHARA SPEAKS AT DOHA DEMOCRACY
CONFERENCE
UNCLAS DOHA 000433
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IS KPAL QA
SUBJECT: FORMER ARAB KNESSET MEMBER BISHARA SPEAKS AT DOHA DEMOCRACY
CONFERENCE
1. (U) Former Arab member of the Israeli Knesset Azmi Bishara was a
featured speaker on the "Political Reform: National Programs and
External Projects" panel of the Doha Forum on Democracy, Development
and Free Trade on April 24. Speaking without notes, Bishara asked
how a state could be built on the ruins of another state. He
wondered rhetorically why it was acceptable to build a nation from
different ethnic groups in order to build a religious state. Israeli
democracy is based on religion and is exclusively for Jews, he
claimed. Bishara could not complete his talk as the panel had run
out of time.
--------------
Bishara's Resignation Final
--------------
2. (U) Interviewed by the Qatari English-language daily "The
Peninsula," Bishara said that his decision to resign was final and
had the effect of cutting short internal procedures against him in
the Knesset. He said that the Knesset committee's preparation of a
series of charges and plans to prosecute was directed at trying to
wipe out the Arab national movement. (Note: Bishara is allegedly
accused of aiding the enemy -- Lebanon -- in wartime, violating
money-laundering laws, and other security-related crimes.) He did
not believe there were any attempts by the government of Israel to
assassinate him, but Jewish extremists might attempt such a thing.
He asserted that such threats would not deter him from continuing
his work or changing his positions.
--------------
Supports the Arab Initiative
--------------
3. (U) On the Arab Peace Initiative with Israel, Bishara told the
newspaper that it would not work unless Israel took it without
modification or delay. He supports the initiative in its present
shape, reminding that he was the most prominent person inside Israel
to call for its implementation. Bishara added that democracy as
promoted by the West has lost credibility, the most noteworthy
example being the international response to the election of Hamas in
the Palestinian National Assembly.
--------------
Will Visit Other Arab States
--------------
4. (U) Bishara announced that he will not return imminently to
Israel and will go on moving between a number of Arab states. He
said that he has received so far a number of invitations from Arab
countries offering him residence. Neither Bishara nor Qatar's
official agency confirmed that he would reside in Qatar.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) Bishara was well-received by Qatari and other Arab
participants in the forum. When the panel was over, many were exited
to greet Bishara personally. He was seen by the Qatari public as one
of the most respected Arab thinkers and was seen with a number of
local intellectuals. There is a good possibility that Bishara will
choose Doha as his place of exile; his brother Marwan, a news
analyst for Al Jazeera International (the English channel),resides
here also.
UNTERMEYER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IS KPAL QA
SUBJECT: FORMER ARAB KNESSET MEMBER BISHARA SPEAKS AT DOHA DEMOCRACY
CONFERENCE
1. (U) Former Arab member of the Israeli Knesset Azmi Bishara was a
featured speaker on the "Political Reform: National Programs and
External Projects" panel of the Doha Forum on Democracy, Development
and Free Trade on April 24. Speaking without notes, Bishara asked
how a state could be built on the ruins of another state. He
wondered rhetorically why it was acceptable to build a nation from
different ethnic groups in order to build a religious state. Israeli
democracy is based on religion and is exclusively for Jews, he
claimed. Bishara could not complete his talk as the panel had run
out of time.
--------------
Bishara's Resignation Final
--------------
2. (U) Interviewed by the Qatari English-language daily "The
Peninsula," Bishara said that his decision to resign was final and
had the effect of cutting short internal procedures against him in
the Knesset. He said that the Knesset committee's preparation of a
series of charges and plans to prosecute was directed at trying to
wipe out the Arab national movement. (Note: Bishara is allegedly
accused of aiding the enemy -- Lebanon -- in wartime, violating
money-laundering laws, and other security-related crimes.) He did
not believe there were any attempts by the government of Israel to
assassinate him, but Jewish extremists might attempt such a thing.
He asserted that such threats would not deter him from continuing
his work or changing his positions.
--------------
Supports the Arab Initiative
--------------
3. (U) On the Arab Peace Initiative with Israel, Bishara told the
newspaper that it would not work unless Israel took it without
modification or delay. He supports the initiative in its present
shape, reminding that he was the most prominent person inside Israel
to call for its implementation. Bishara added that democracy as
promoted by the West has lost credibility, the most noteworthy
example being the international response to the election of Hamas in
the Palestinian National Assembly.
--------------
Will Visit Other Arab States
--------------
4. (U) Bishara announced that he will not return imminently to
Israel and will go on moving between a number of Arab states. He
said that he has received so far a number of invitations from Arab
countries offering him residence. Neither Bishara nor Qatar's
official agency confirmed that he would reside in Qatar.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) Bishara was well-received by Qatari and other Arab
participants in the forum. When the panel was over, many were exited
to greet Bishara personally. He was seen by the Qatari public as one
of the most respected Arab thinkers and was seen with a number of
local intellectuals. There is a good possibility that Bishara will
choose Doha as his place of exile; his brother Marwan, a news
analyst for Al Jazeera International (the English channel),resides
here also.
UNTERMEYER