Channels

Dichter: Looking out
Photo: Liron Sinai

Dichter: Mourning Nakba harmful for Arab sector

Internal security minister christens first Kadima chapter in Shfaram, says he believes Israeli-Arabs must stop grieving for so-called 'disaster of Israel', since 'State as much theirs as it is ours'

Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter christened the first Kadima chapter in the none-Jewish sector Sunday, in the northern city of Shfaram.

 

Dichter welcomed the new cooperation and called on the heads of the Israeli-Arab community to go back on their decision to boycott Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations.

 

The decision, he said, can only hurt the Israeli-Arab population in the long run: "Even if they (heads of the Israeli-Arab community) choose not to celebrate our 60th anniversary, they will celebrate our 70th and 80th anniversaries, simply because we and the Muslim and Druze and Circassian and Christian citizens have no other country. It is as much theirs as it is ours," said Dichter.

 

When asked when he thought about the Israeli-Arab sector commemorating the "Nakba" – meaning the "catastrophe" of the establishment of State of Israel – every year, Dichter repeated his early statement, saying that the continuance use of such terminology is not in the sector's best interest.

 

"Anyone crying over the Nakba year after year can't be surprised if they end up with one… the Nakba won't give anyone better education or create new jobs."

 

Kadima, he added, rejects any kind of radicalism: "Any talk of transferring Israeli-Arab citizens to the Palestinian Authority is nothing but pure nonsense."

 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert joined the inauguration ceremony via telephone and stressed that the Israeli government was dedicate to creating a real dialogue with the Palestinians.

 

"Israel is committed to bring real equality between the peoples and to bridge the gaps between the Israeli and none-Israeli society in Israel.

 

"The government is committed to this mission," added Olmert. "We will make every effort to solve the non-Jewish sector's problems."

 

Deputy Foreign Minister MK Majalli Whbee (Kadima), who initiated the establishment of the Kadima chapter in Shfaram, told Ynet it was clear that Dichter's statement was not meant for those in attendance, but rather for those absent.

 

"I believe we are an unrepeatable part of Israel, in bad times as well as in good times," said Whbee. Adding he believed Kadima has some 5,000 registered members in the north's non-Jewish sector.

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.17.07, 08:21
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment