Bishara nominated for the post of prime minister in Israel

Arab Israeli Knesset member Azmi Bishara has asserted his intention to nominate himself for the post of the prime minister in Israel to be the first Arab candidate for such a post.

A statement by the National Democratic Alliance, over which Bishara presides, said he collected 30,000 out of 50,000 signatures needed for his nomination.

The statement added that the other 20,000 signatures should be collected before March 31 so the nomination would be valid. Bishara (43) will hold today a press conference in Tel Aviv in order to openly explain the reasons behind his nomination.

This is the first time since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 that an Arab has intended to nominate himself to assume power in Israel, but Bishara's step is viewed as symbolic because he cannot rely only on Arab Israeli voters who constitute 18% of the total population in Israel.

Bishara's decision raised negative and adverse reactions in Arab and Israeli circles alike. The "Hadash" communist party and the united Arab list, the two parties which represent the Arab population, voiced their opposition to Bishara's nomination and considered it as a personal initiative.

Bishara supports the establishment of a Palestinian state beside the state of Israel.