Israel to Release Political Adviser Abed Abu Shahada Following US Lawmakers' Pressure
Political adviser Abed Abu Shahada, detained after interviewing Azmi Bishara in Qatar, is set to be released following intervention by newly elected US lawmakers who warned the arrest harms press freedom.
Abed Abu Shahada, a political adviser and activist detained five days ago after interviewing Azmi Bishara in Qatar, is set to be released on Sunday. Abu Shahada was arrested on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent following the interview with the former Knesset member, who co-founded Balad and was suspected of aiding Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War.
During a previous court hearing, a dispute arose regarding Abu Shahada's professional status. Police initially acknowledged him as a journalist, but later retracted the statement, asserting that he is solely a political adviser. Meanwhile, his defense attorneys maintained that he has worked in journalism for six years and that the interview was conducted as part of his work for the Arab 48 website.
Simultaneously, three newly elected Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives—Brad Lander of New York, Daniel Biss of Illinois, and Scott Wiener of California—sent a letter to Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter, demanding Abu Shahada's immediate release. The progressive Democrats, all endorsed by J Street, warned that the detention undermines press freedom in Israel, emphasizing that interviewing controversial political figures is fundamental to journalism in a free society.
The trio also called for an end to investigations and arrests that they claim aim to undermine the results of recent Israeli elections, in which Arab parties achieved historic gains. Abu Shahada's detention had been extended based on classified intelligence not disclosed to his defense team. Lander noted that while they did not plan for their first joint action after being elected to involve opposing an arrest in Israel, the circumstances demanded their intervention.
