Israel's leading Arab MP Azmi Bishara announced in Cairo his resignation from parliament on Sunday and said he would stay abroad for some time. Bishara, a vocal critic of Israel's policies towards the Palestinians, currently under investigation, complained of persecution in his home country, while hawkish Israeli MPs welcomed the resignation as a case of good riddance.
"I decided to resign a year ago and just delayed the resignation due to commitments that I had in the parliament," Bishara told reporters after a meeting in the Egyptian capital with Arab League chief Amr Mussa.