Arabs rally: October Riots wound still bleeding

Ten years after 2000 riots left 13 Israeli Arabs dead, parents demand international community launch official probe into events

Roi Mandel |Published: 09.27.10 , 20:03

Some 250 people rallied in central Tel Aviv Monday, calling for an international investigation into the events of the 2000 October Riots which left 13 Israeli Arabs dead.

The protestors held up signs calling for an international commission of inquiry into the riots and waving Palestinian flags.

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Abd Abu Saleh, whose son Walid was killed on the second day of the riots, told Ynet he will not cease his protest until those responsible for his son's death answer for their actions.

"It's been 10 years and the wound is still bleeding. It hurts just as bad as it did the first day, the first hour. It's painful to think that for 10 years, the identity of those who killed my son and 12 others is known, but no one will take responsibility," he said.

Saleh said he will seek action by the International Court: "No one was tried for this. I will prosecute those responsible inThe Hague. I will not give up. The State has proven it cannot investigate this on its own, so we need an international inquest."

The father of Alaa Nassar, who was also killed on the second day of the riots, also protested the fact that the Or Commission, tasked with investigating the events, decided not to file charges against any of the police officers involved.

"We do not hate the State of Israel, nor do we hate Jews. We hate the Israel Police, which discriminates against Arab citizens. A policeman would never use live rounds against Israeli demonstrators. But they are all trigger-happy when it comes to Arabs.

"Our blood is no different than that of this country's Jewish citizens. Having our children's killers prosecuted won't bring them back and it won't ease the pain, but it will give us some peace of mind," he said.