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Bus that was attacked by Zada in 2005
Photo: Gil Nehushtan
Sheikh Raed Salah
Photo: Moran Shavit

Shfaram lynching trial opens; dozens demonstrate

Arab MKs, Sheikh Salah among those protesting outside Haifa court as proceedings begin against alleged killers of Jewish terrorist Natan Zada; 'Anyone who carries out a terror attack deserves to die,' one suspect says

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Haifa District Court Wednesday morning to demonstrate against the opening of the trial of the suspects involved in the lynching of army deserter Eden Natan Zada in 2005 after he went on a killing spree in the Arab town of Shfaram, leaving four people dead.

 

Hadash MK Muhammad Barakeh and Islamic Movement head Sheikh Raed Salah were among the demonstrators, who urged the State to stop the legal proceedings against the suspects. Some demonstrators were waving Palestinian flags.

 

"We demand that the cases be closed immediately. This is a political trial that was opened due to pressure from the Right," MK Barakeh said. "(Attorney General Menachem) Mazuz, who closed the cases involving the murder of 13 Arab civilians, is now opening cases against 12 Arab citizens after four other citizens had been murdered by a Jewish terrorist.

 

"I don't recall the State Prosecutor's Office charging anyone following the (killing of the Arab tractor driver who went on a rampage in Jerusalem)," he said.

 

Balad Chairman Jamal Zahalka called the trial a "provocation of the Arab public and rubbing salt on an open wound".

 

"The real question is whether the Arab citizens have the right to self defense, or is this a privilege reserved for Jews alone," he added.

 


'Trial a provocation.' Rally outside Haifa courtroom (Photo: Moran Shavit) 

 

One of the suspects, Jamil Safuri, said "I am angry and frustrated, we are innocent." Another suspect, Basel Kadri, said "the soldier (Zada) carried out a terror attack. Anyone who does so deserves to die."

 

In the beginning of June, 12 Shfaram residents were indicted for allegedly lynching Zada after he murdered four bus passengers in the northern town in August 2005. Some of them were charged with attempted murder, while others were indicted for assaulting a police officer.

 

In response to the indictments, Shfaram council members decided to place the entire city, aside from its schools, on strike for one day.

 

During a demonstration held some three weeks ago, one of the suspects called on the State to retract the indictments "so as not to hurt the (Jewish-Arab) co-existence that has been established over the course of many years. It is clear to everyone that we are the victims." 

 

Hassan Asala, father of Asil Asala, who was killed in the events of October 2000, was also present at the demonstration, and said, "What is happening here today is the true embodiment of the fascist regime in Israel.

 

"This is the government's hypocrisy, to the point where (Supreme Court President) Judge Aharon Barak could not shout out his opinion during the October 2000 trial, when he did not open his mouth. He only allowed himself to talk after he retired."

 

Amir Makhoul, of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee said he had already contacted international organizations and invited them to attend the court session in protest of "the State of Israel's apartheid conduct".

 

Islamic Movement Spokesman Zahi Nujeidat added, "This is a trial of the victims, while those who sent the murdered, Natan Zadan, walk free and the security forces make no effort to track down who was behind it. They are prosecuting the victims who were miraculously not murdered."

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.01.09, 10:50
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