Israeli police to investigate Arab Knesset member visit to Syria

Israeli Attorney General, Menachem Mazuz, on Thursday ordered the police to launch an investigation against Arab Knesset Member Talab el-Sana on account of his trip to Syria last month.

El-Sana is suspected of illegally visiting an "enemy state", after the interior minister has rejected his appeal to travel to Syria before his departure, and in spite of the fact that police officers at the Jordanian border warned him he was carrying out an illegal act.

El-Sana traveled to Syria through Jordan despite the ban, and stayed there about a week. During his visit he met with parliament members and ministers and gave a speech at the Syrian parliament.

The highest ranking official el-Sana met with the Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa. The two discussed the United States' attitude towards Syria and the implications of the war in Iraq on the American foreign policy regarding Syria.