Arab Member of Knesset (MK), and Balad Party chairman, Dr. Azmi Bishara traveled today to Damascus, where he will meet MKs Jamal Zahalka and Wasel Taha, also from the Balad party. The visiting politicians plan to meet with Syrian government leadership to discuss the recent ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and the prospect of peace in the region.

After MK Bishara first visited Syria five years ago, a law was passed in the Knesset prohibiting MKs from traveling to countries hostile toward Israel. The Balad party defended its decision to send a delegation to Syria, explaining that it constituted "the realization of the right of Arabs in Israel to remain in contact with Arab nations" and that such a visit offered an important opportunity to discuss peace plans.

Right-wing Israel MK Avigdor Lieberman, member of the conservative Yisrael Beiteinu party, said today that he sees no difference between the delegations trip to Syria and an act of espionage against the Israeli state.

In an interview with Israel Radio from Damascus, MK Zahalka justified the visit, saying "We don't see Syria as an enemy State…There is an opportunity to discuss peace."

According to the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, the trip had initially been planned to take place two months ago, but was rescheduled due to the tense political situation regarding the conflict in Lebanon.