Azmi Bishara

Azmi Bishara, born on July 22, 1956, in Nazareth, Israel, is a prominent Arab-Israeli public intellectual, political philosopher, and author. His journey into political activism began in 1974 when he founded the National Committee for Arab High School Students, followed by the establishment of the Arab Students Union during his university years. His political career took a significant turn in 1995 when he formed the Balad party, leading to his election to the Knesset in 1996, with subsequent re-elections in 1999, 2003, and 2006.

However, his political trajectory faced a dramatic shift after the 2006 Lebanon War. Following visits to Lebanon and Syria, Bishara became embroiled in a criminal investigation concerning allegations of treason and espionage, specifically accusations of providing targeting information to Hezbollah. Denying these allegations, he fled Israel, asserting that he would not receive a fair trial if he returned.

Currently, Bishara resides in Qatar, where he has established himself as an academic and researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, serving as its General Director. He also plays a pivotal role as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. In addition to his academic pursuits, he contributed to the founding of the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed media conglomerate.

In early 2017, Bishara announced his retirement from direct political engagement, choosing instead to dedicate his efforts to writing and intellectual production, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career.