Minister Atias: Stop Arab takeover in north
Housing and construction minister expresses concern over expansion of Arab communities in northern Israel, says bringing haredim to area should be national mission
The State of Israel is "losing the Galilee" because of current government policies, Housing and Construction Minister Ariel Atias (Shas) said Thursday.
Atias, speaking at an Israeli Bar Association conference in Tel Aviv, was reiterating the sentiments expressed by Jewish community heads in northern Israel and added that he sees "bringing the haredi community to the Wadi Ara areas as a national mission," noting the expansion of Arab communities in the north must be stopped.
"The Arabs have nowhere to live, so they buy homes in Jewish places, which results in unwanted friction… Some sectors have special needs and they need to live somewhat apart. The haredim, for instance, need synagogues and do not want any traffic on Shabbat. Seculars demand cultural facilities and other things.
"We are one people and we need to find a way to live together. We have enough enemies on the outside," Atias said.
According to the housing minister, "Mayors don't want mixed cities. We all saw the riots in Akko, we saw how dangerous it was. We can't toy with that. The reality is that different sectors do not necessarily get along. The many Arabs in Wadi Ara make it an undesirable place to live."
Atias brought the example of the northern community of Harish, built near Wadi Ara: "(Former Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon started to bring Jews up there 15 year ago, but the project failed… what I want to do is to bring over the haredim as a way to continue that."
MK Afu Aghbaria (Hadash) slammed Atias' statements, saying he may threaten the delicate fabric of relation between Jews and Arabs in the area.
"I suggest he go see a doctor as soon as possible, to see if he has been infected with the (Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor) Lieberman strand racists' flu," he said.
Hadash Chairman Mohammad Barakeh added: "Racism is spreading throughout the government and Minister Atias is the latest to express it. The government and everyone in it must realize that that Arabs are living in their homeland and they have no other. If there is any foreign element in the Galilee, it is not the Arabs."
Balad Chairman Jamal Zahalka reiterated the sentiment, and urged the haredi community not to be exploited: "Minister Atias' insane plan to suffocate the Arab communities must be stopped. Calling for the Judaization of the Galilee is racism. Atias must understand that the Arabs did not rob anyone of land – on the contrary, most of their lands have been sacked. We will fight for our right to our homes."
