In 2008, Danon filed a petition to the Israeli High Court of Justice to rescind the citizenship of former MK Azmi Bishara, who fled Israel after he was suspected of aiding Hizbullah, an enemy organization of Israel, during the Second Lebanon War.
After Azmi Bishara fled the country, Zahalka became Balad's leader.
Shabana Azmi | Kaifi Azmi | Azmi Bishara | Marzouq AlـHubaini Al-Azmi | Waqar Azmi | Ubaid Azam Azmi | Tanvi Azmi | Mohd Azmi Muslim | Bishara Khader | Baba Azmi |
The other trustees are: Dr. Ali Fakhro, Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Emma Bonino, Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Mary Robinson, Dr. Hasan Al-Ibrahim, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, Dr. Mohammed Abed al-Jabri, Joschka Fischer, Sadiq al-Mahdi, Dr. Azmi Bishara, and Amat Al Alim Alsoswa.
Although five candidates announced their intention to run, the three representing minor parties (Benny Begin of Herut – The National Movement, Azmi Bishara of Balad and Yitzhak Mordechai of the Centre Party) dropped out before election day, and Ehud Barak beat Netanyahu in the election.