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Photo: Hassan Shaalan
Boy to Ynet: I am against kidnappings, and there are a lot of Israeli-Arabs who support Israel and t
Photo: Hassan Shaalan

Israel-Arab youth urges: 'Bring back our boys'

'I call for the return of the abducted teens. This is not the way to reach peace,' says Israeli-Arab teen in Facebook post, inspiring slew of death threats – 'I'm afraid to go to school.'

Growing support among Israeli-Arab teens for the three kidnapped Israel seems to be on the rise, despite harsh comments made by Arab MKs and Palestinians regarding the incident.

 

 

Only two days after a 17-year-old boy from northern Israel caused a storm by posting a video demanding the release of Eyal Yifrach, Gil-Ad Shaer and Naftali Frenkel – the three Israeli teens missing since last Thursday and presumed to be kidnapped – an additional Arab youth published a cry of support for the three.

 

'Bring Back Our Boys'
'Bring Back Our Boys'
 

 

The boy, a 17-year-old, was undeterred by the death threats received by his forerunner, and posted a picture of himself holding an Israeli flag with the words "Bring Back Out Boys" – and the retribution was not far behind.

 

In wake of the picture, the boy has received a number of death threats. Speaking to Ynet after lodging a complaint with the police, he said "I am against kidnappings, and there are a lot of Israeli-Arabs who support Israel and the peace process."

 

He explained his decision to post the photo, saying "I took a picture of myself with an Israeli flag so they know I am an Israeli citizen. I am an Umm al-Fahm resident with an Israeli ID card, like the one carried by 21% of Israel's (Arab) citizens. I ask the abductors to return the boys immediately."

 

"I'm afraid to go to school," he told Ynet, but remained undeterred in his message: "I call for the return of the abducted teens. This is not the way to reach peace."

 

Regarding the Israeli-Arab who published the video expressing support for the kidnapped Israelis, the Umm al-Fahm teenager "he had no desire to harm citizens, that is his opinon and he should not be attached as if he did something serious."

 

The police said an investigation has been launched into the threats on the boy's life.

Just the comments the picture inspired indicate the type of threats the teenager faces: "We want to kill you," wrote one; "you are traitor" and "you better flee Umm al-Fahm."

 

The boy also slammed MK Hanin Zoabi – a controversial Arab MK who Tuesday said those behind the kidnapping "were not terrorists." According to him "such comments destroy the relations between Jews and Arabs. I call on Zoabi to admit she represents only herself."

 

The boy's mother expressed support, saying "I don't think he is making a grave mistake. We all live in Israel and we can ignore the kidnapping. People look at us in the streets as if were criminals."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.18.14, 18:25
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