I like `Azmi Bisharah, and respect his mind very much. I disagree with him on his close relationship with the Asad regime (and his refusal to criticize it no matter what), and his relationship with the Hariri family. He yesterday insisted on visiting Bahiyyah Hariri in Sidon at a time when the Hariri Inc in Lebanon is leading a movement that is hostile to Palestinian interests in Lebanon, and well beyond Lebanon. Bisharah did not forget to remember fondly Rafiq Hariri. Not that he cares about my opinion of course. But I do (I mean, I care about...my opinion).

PS. It got worse. Bisharah made it worse, much worse. He visited the Rafiq Hariri section of the Arab book exhibit in Beirut, and made some pathatically fawning statements about Hariri. He pledged that Palestine will always be loyal to Rafiq Hariri. This is the Rafiq Hariri who during his rule (and with the support of a whole number of political leaders and organizations in Lebanon (Sunni, Shi`ite, Druze, Maronite, etc)--and with the support of the Syrian regime--imposed the most cruel (dis)order on the Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut. On this point `Azmi Bisharah does not speak on behalf of the Palestinians. I know what the Palestinians in Lebanon think of Rafiq Hariri.