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Giterman. 'Remember the Qassams?'
Photo: Avi Rokach

Ashdod's deputy mayor speaks out against Arabs

In chance meeting between leftist activist and acting mayor from Yisrael Beiteinu, former suggests holding meeting between Russian immigrants and Russian-speaking Arab Israelis. Deputy mayor declines, says he can't stand Arabs

Dr. Alla Shainskaya, a senior scientist at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot and left-wing activist, attended an event held at the Russian Embassy in Israel where she ran into Deputy Mayor of Ashdod Boris Giterman (Yisrael Beiteinu), to whom she suggested that events be held between Russian immigrants and Russian-speaking Arab Israelis.

 

Shainskaya, a board member with B'Tselem and active in a number of left-wing organizations, explained, "Hundreds of Arab Israelis studying in Russia and speak the language. Some of them even married Russian women. We recently visited some of the in Umm al-Fahm, where they received us very nicely and we experienced their culture. Therefore, we thought of hold such a meeting with residents of Ashdod."


Dr. Shainskaya. Umm al-Fahm should come to Ashdod (Personal photo)

 

According to Shainskaya, when she presented this idea to Giterman, she was shocked by his harsh response. "He expressed himself in a crass and disgraceful manner, saying that he can't stand Arabs, does not trust them, and therefore will not cooperate with them. He also said that he doesn't like them and does not see any difference between Arab Israelis and Palestinians," claimed Shainskaya.

 

Giterman, on the other hand, painted a different picture than the one portrayed by Shainskaya. He clarified that their conversation took place in a private meeting.

 

Giterman said, "She told me that she is a member in leftist organizations. I answered her that I went to the event at the embassy as a private individual, and not in the framework of my public position. Politely, I noted that my views are opposite hers. I asked her if she didn't remember that not too long ago Qassam rockets fell on Ashdod, and we suffered and that I am not certain that they would be too sorry about that in Umm al-Fahm."

 

Giterman also noted that no official request was received by Umm al-Fahm to arrange such an exchange. He clarified: "Even if there were such a request, I would certainly respond in the negative. From my perspective, she can do what she wants, but as long as I am serving as acting mayor, it unequivocally will not happen. The reason for this is the firing of Qassam rockets and that Knesset member (Hanin Zoabi) who made the provocation on the flotilla. And anyway, they're not returning Gilad Shalit."

 

World media has been notified

Shainskaya was quick to announce that she would present the mayor's statements at international forums. Since the incident, she notified a number of foreign newspapers and even told the Belarus ambassador in Israel of what she called "statements made by an official representative of the Ashdod municipality."

 

"What are we going to do? Act like nothing is happening? Continue on and keep quiet even when the foreign minister declares that he agrees that Kadima join the government on condition that it support the exchange of territory along with the transfer of Israel's Arab citizens?" she asked. "Giterman is the Lieberman's helper, who claims that there is no distinction for him between Arab Israelis and Hamas."

 

At least the latter part of her claims Giterman himself confirmed. "For 36 years I have been in Israel, and I have not identified any difference between them until now. In Ashdod's municipality, there is no Arab faction because there aren't any Arab residents. That Knesset member (Hanin Zoabi) is brazen and she should be thrown down the stairs. I don't like them, and don't really see any difference. Now to make an Umm al-Fahm day in Ashdod?,' Giterman said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.30.10, 13:49
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