Rally: Free Arab Israelis who murdered IDF soldier

Hundreds in Arara call on Israeli government to release killers of Avi Bromberg. MK Zahalka: Thirty years in jail is enough

Hassan Shaalan|Published: 03.03.12 , 19:14

Some 500 Arab Israelis took part Saturday evening in a support rally for two prisoners who were convicted more than 30 years ago of kidnapping and murdering IDF soldier Avi Bromberg of Zichron Yaacov.

The demonstration, which was organized by the Palestinian Prisoners movement and the Balad party, was held in an event hall in the northern village of Arara.

Corporal Bromberg was attacked in November 1981 while making his way from his base in the Golan Heights to his home in Zichron Yaacov. He was found mortally wounded on the side of a northern highway and died of his wounds two days later.

בכנס למען הרוצחים מאהר וכרים יונס (צילום: חסן שעלאן)

Rally in Arara (Photo: Hassan Shaalan)

In 1983, Arara residents Maher and Kareem Younis were arrested and confessed to Bromberg's murder. Both were sentenced to death – a verdict later commuted to life imprisonment.

מאות השתתפו במפגן ההזדהות (צילום: חסן שעלאן)

'Tragedy and hardships ignored.' (Photo: Hassan Shaalan)

During the rally relatives of Maher and Kareem Younis leveled harsh criticism at Hamas, saying the Islamist group has "given up" on Arab-Israeli prisoners. "Hamas did not make an effort to free our imprisoned sons," Maher's mother said. "They (Hamas leaders) are living in palaces at the expense of our prisoners. They should know that Palestine is strong because of us."

Arab Knesset Member Jamal Zahalka (Balad) said the Arab-Israeli inmates should have been included in the prisoner exchange deal that secured Gilad Shalit's release from Hamas captivity. "I think 30 years in jail is enough. On the one hand the government says (the prisoners) are not Palestinian, so they should not be released under any (agreement), but on the other hand (the government) tells them they are not Israeli either.

"The Israeli government must decide if they are Palestinian and should therefore be released according to criteria specified in the Oslo accords, or if they are Israeli citizens who deserve prisoners' rights," he added.

The mother of two other Arab-Israeli prisoners told those on hand, "The Palestinian nation has disregarded our tragedy and hardships."

Another protester also claimed the prisoners should have been included in the Shalit deal. "Unfortunately, Hamas and the State of Israel chose a pointless path that serves their interests," he said.