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A nightmare (Archive Photo)
Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO

Umm al-Fahm braces for possible retribution for Jerusalem attack

Northern Israeli city contracts private security firm to guard against possible vendetta radical elements may seek for terror attack on Jewish seminary

The Umm al-Fahm Municipality has decided to contract a private security firm, fearing acts of retribution by Jewish radicals might plague the northern Israeli city following the deadly attack on Mercaz Harav yeshiva, last Thursday.

 

Umm al-Fahm Mayor Sheikh Hashem Abd al-Rahman announced his intention in a joint press conference held Wednesday by the mayors of Jewish and Arab communities in the Wadi Ara area, in protest of the several stoning incidents in the area.

 

Al-Rahman's reasoning was Tuesday Channel 1's report, according to which a group of Jewish men were given rabbinical sanction to carry out a vendetta for the attack.

 

"I think each and everyone of us should take extra care these days," he said. "We have to remain vigilant… one madman can set off the entire world."

 

Commenting on the Channel 1 report, al-Rahman said that "hearing people like (Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor) Lieberman and (National Union Chair Effie) Eitam say things like 'we're going to take care of you' makes us feel endangered."

 

Legitimizing murder unacceptance

"Talking about harming Arabs is a very risky thing. It's a nightmare I don't want anyone to have. Legitimizing murder is unacceptance to me as a Muslim, as an Arab, as a Palestinian and as a citizen of the State of Israel.

 

"Whoever said those things must be found and arrested immediately. We already had one Eden Natan Zada in Shfaram. There are other crazy people out there," he added.

 

The Wadi Ara Jewish-Arab Municipal Forum has held several meeting to discuss the coming crisis: "If we learned anything form (the October riots of) 2000 is that we have to pay attention to these things when they first emerge," said Hanan Erez, Head of the Megiddo Regional Council.

 

"We call on the government to do everything it can to promote coexistence… it's a mutual goal," he said, adding that "murder and any attempt to legitimize murders is a heinous thing that must be condemned in every way possible." 

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.12.08, 16:32
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