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Arrested. Druze protester
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Druze protestors warn of intifada

Hundreds of Druze, Circassians rally outside Prime Minister's Office to protest 'years of rights violations.' Communities' leaders warn of impending unrest within sector

Hundreds of Druze demonstrated across from the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem Sunday, demanding their rights be recognized.

 

The rally turned into a riot and seven police officers were lightly hurt. Several protesters were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officers.

 

Druze and Circassians leaders presented three major demands during the rally: Writing off their communities' debts, reinstating funds meant to equate local authorities' expenses and revenues – according to the preset Interior Ministry formula, and creating new income sources for their communities.


Clashing with police. The protest (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

 

"A Druze is as good as a Jew in war, but when it comes to budgets, 10 Druze children are equal to one Jewish child," read one of the signs.

 

The protest took place just as the weekly cabinet meeting was underway, with demonstrators using air horns in an attempt to disrupt the meeting.

 

Protestors then attempted to barge into the Prime Minister's Office, but were stopped by Border Guard and Central Control Unit officers.

 

Sajur Local Council Head Hamud Jabar, warned against a Druze intifada (civil unrest): "I'm ashamed of serving this country for 22 years. This is a racist country run by politicians who don’t care about the street. We are not mercenaries, we are this country."

 

The northern community head said that he knows that the Jews are sympathetic to his sector: "The Jewish people stand by our side and appreciate us. The problem is the government."

 

Another of the rally's organizers added that "we are here to protest years of discrimination by the Israeli governments. We demand (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's government rectify these wrongs."

 

Roni Sofer, Daniel Edelson, Ronen Medzini and Sharon Roffe-Ofir contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.21.09, 11:58
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