Ben-Ari: Not a provocation
Ben-Gvir: Demanding loyalty
Photo: Ido Erez
MK Ben-Ari to march with Marzel
National Union MK joins rightists planning to parade Israeli flags through streets of Umm al-Fahm
MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) announced Sunday that he would be taking part in a rightist march in the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm scheduled for Tuesday.
Last week police approved the march after receiving an order from the High Court of Justice.
Arab Response
Efrat Weiss
Police confirm march to take place Tuesday, with security protection; Arab MKs condemn march as 'racist'
"I plan to participate in the march Tuesday. It's the minimum required of those loyal to the State, to go and say that Umm al-Fahm is part of the State and that Israeli sovereignty is applicable there as well," he said.
"Umm al-Fahm is a symbol. If we don't march there with Israeli flags then we won't be able to march with Israeli flags in Tel Aviv either… Is there a place in the country where flags cannot be waved? How can such a thing be?"
The MK, affiliated with the extremist Kach movement, said police were responsible for preventing any violence that may result from the march. "I suggest police perform preventative arrests," he offered.
"It's a provocation to say this is a provocation," he chastised naysayers. "If waving Israeli flags is a provocation, then this is a big provocation."
Right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir who planned the march together with Baruch Marzel, said the marchers had no intention of creating discontent.
"We will just come with Israeli flags and demand that the residents of Umm al-Fahm be loyal to the State. This is a march of loyalty to the State of Israel, and was planned as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations. They should remember that if they have representatives in the Knesset and if they have rights in the country, then they also have obligations," he said.
Police are preparing to deploy large forces in the area in order to attempt to prevent conflict between errant civilians on both sides. Around 100 right-wing activists are expected to show up, and will march only on side streets, avoiding major junctions.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
