Land Day protesters call PM 'traitor'

Over a thousand people gather in Jaffa to protest 'racist policies', razing of Arab homes in Ajami

Hassan Shaalan|Published: 04.02.11 , 20:56

More than 1,500 people protested in Jaffa Saturday against the razing of homes in the largely Arab neighborhood of Ajami, carrying Palestinian flags and calling out against the "racist policies" enacted in the city.

The leftist and Arab protesters also cried out against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom they called a "traitor".

The Israeli government of "racists" is responsible for terror, the demonstrators said, also denouncing settlements and calling extreme rightist Baruch Marzel a "coward".

Protesters in Jaffa (Photo: Hassan Shaalan)

The protest was organized by the Jaffa Popular Committee for the Defense of Land and Housing Rights. Sami Abu Shehadeh, a member of the committee, told Ynet that "the eviction of Jaffa's Arab residents will not be passed over with silence."

Abu Shehadeh called on Jaffa's residents to unite "against the razing of homes and construction of a Jewish settlement in the neighborhood of Ajami".

"The continuation of the racist policies against Arab residents will cause destruction of the community. Rational and reasonable voices in the Israeli community keep reminding me that this policy will lead to catastrophe in Jaffa. The deportation of Arabs has already reached the ear of every resident in the city," he said.

Former MK Nadia Hilou (Labor) also participated in the rally. "Jaffa's institutions are coming out today as part of Land Day events in order to fight for their homes," she told Ynet.

"The residents of Jaffa are suffering from housing shortage and there are no solutions. Recently organizations have been coming in and inciting against the Arab population. Jaffa's residents are attacked and helpless. We are here today in order to fight for our homes and our children."

Aklas Abu-Yasin, who claims she could lose her home, told Ynet she refuses to leave. "We are on our land and not on Israeli land, and it is our right to live here with full rights. What we are going through is clearly an assault – putting families on the street, without homes. But we will not allow Israel to achieve its dream," she said.