Fugitive former Israeli Knesset member Azmi Bishara’s booth at an international book fair in Saudi Arabia was shut down on Sunday by fair directors, the Ynet news website reported, with no reason given.
Bishara serves as General Director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, whose kiosk at the Jeddah International Book Fair was unceremoniously shut on Sunday only one day after the 10-day event began.
Ynet quoted speculation on Arabic news websites that the Saudi Culture Ministry was responsible for closing the Center’s stall, possibly due to its pro-Arab Spring positions that are unpoular with Saudi leadership.
Bishara led the Knesset’s Balad party until he fled Israel in 2007, amid suspicions that he provided information to the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Bishara has denied the allegations, and says he will not return to Israel as he does not believe he will receive a fair trial.
Bishara currently resides in Doha, Qatar.
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