'Leave the neighborhood.' Issa

Attacked Arab-Israeli woman: We'll die on this land

Nazareth woman who was spat on by Jewish teens tells Ynet incident not her first encounter with racism

Hassan Shaalan|Published: 03.10.13 , 17:28

"Such incidents will not deter us. We will remain on our lands until we die," said an Arab-Israeli woman from Nazareth who, along with her daughter, was the victim of an alleged racist attack by three Jewish teenagers.

The teenagers, aged 14, allegedly spat on the woman, cursed her and told her to "leave the Jewish neighborhood."

Related stories:

Ulad Issa, 57, and her 27-year-old daughter filed a police complaint against the teenagers, who were detained Saturday night. Police decided to give the teenagers an educational punishment, and they will give lectures before other teens on tolerance and against racist violence.

Speaking to Ynet, Issa said, "On Friday my daughter and I were going to the post office when three teenagers began to verbally harass us and say, 'Stinking Arab, get out of here, this is our land.' They used harsher words which I cannot repeat."

Issa, who has lived with her family in Nazareth Illit for more than two decades, told Ynet the incident was not her first encounter with racism. "Unfortunately, this was not the first time something like this has happened to us. Even guests who come to our home are confronted by racists who attack them verbally and spit at them, particularly when they see Arab women wearing veils."

"Racism must be eradicated. We've been living here for 23 years and have never had any trouble with the neighbors," Issa continued. "We must raise awareness so we can live in peace, Arabs and Jews together, without racism."

Northern District Police spokesman Yehuda Maman said the Jewish teenagers apologized for the attack. "They will appear before students to discuss the severity of what they have done and the importance of living together in peace," he said.