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Photo: Ronen Lidor
October Riots – compensation deal finalized
Photo: Ronen Lidor

October Riots compensation deal signed

Families of seven Arab-Israelis killed by police during October 2000 riots to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars each; agreement recognizes State's responsibility for deaths, allows relatives to fight for indictment of Israeli officials

Compensation deal signed: Israel has agreed to recognize its responsibility for the deaths of seven Arab Israelis killed during the October 2000 riots and compensate their families, Channel 1 reported Wednesday.

 

Each family will receive NIS 1,100,000 (roughly $300,000) in compensation fees. Moreover, the agreement signed with the State Prosecutor's northern branch does not require relatives to renounce their demands for indictments against Israeli officials they view as responsible for their loved ones' deaths.

 

"Even a million dollars will not bring our sons back home," said Abdul Munam, whose son Walid was killed in 2000. "We'll continue to fight for justice."

 

The State already agreed to pay compensation to the families back in 2006, but conditioned such deal on three clauses that provoked the anger of relatives.

 

'We will not rest'

According to one clause, the State was not responsible for the deaths and chose to compensate the families beyond what is required by law. In another clause, both sides were asked to express their grief over the events, and the third contentious clause ruled that relatives will not have the right to file future lawsuits over the incidents in question.

 

However, the families petitioned the Nazareth District Court, which accepted their appeal and prompted the State to amend the problematic clauses.

 

Wednesday evening, representatives of the Arab families made it clear that they will continue to struggle on the international stage.

 

"Until we get our hands on each one of the people who murdered our sons, we will not rest," al-Munam said.

 

A total of 13 Arab Israelis, as well as one Jewish civilian, were killed during the riots that broke out in October 2000, as Israel's Arabs joined the Second Palestinian Intifada and embarked on a series of protests and violent demonstrations.

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.21.09, 22:59
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