Nashat Melhem
Activists demonstrate in Dizengoff terrorist's village
Activists say they aim to convey message that ‘Israel cannot tolerate disloyal elements’; local Arab residents promise to stage counter-demonstration and block activists from entering the village; police presence stationed to prevent public disorder; ‘We are prepared to pay any price to stop them coming in,’ says Arab resident.
Dozens of right-wing activists began a staged demonstration Monday afternoon in the northern Israeli village of Ara outside the home belonging to the parents of Nashat Melhem, who carried out a deadly shooting terror attack on New Year’s Day.
Melhem opened fire on the popular Dizengoff street in Tel Aviv last January killing Alon Bakal, 26, who was the manager of the Simta bar at which the attack took place, and Shimon Ruimi, 30, from Ofakim and Amin Shaban, a taxi driver.
Nashat Melhem killed 3 in Tel Aviv shooting attack
A desmonstration is also expected to take place in the neighborhood in Arara where Melhem was eventually killed by security forces following a protracted manhunt.
Local residents announced that counter-demonstrations against the activists will also be simultaneously staged and that they will seek to prevent activists’ entry into the village. The Monitoring Committee of Arab citizens of Israel called on Arab residents to join the counter-demonstrations.
Given the potential friction which risks sparking violent clashes, the police have announced that a heavy security presence will be stationed at the demonstration locations to avoid the disruption of public order.
Right-wing activist and lawyer, Itamar Ben-Gvir, explained the reasoning behind the protest. “We are going to the home of the parents of the terrorist to say to whoever supported him and gave him assistance that the time has come to stop this lawlessness,” said Ben-Gvir. “The State of Israel cannot tolerate all kinds of disloyal elements, especially such as those who assist and support a terrorists and his criminal acts of murder.”
Nashat Melhem
The demonstration is open to the village residents who oppose terrorists and anyone loyal to the state, Ben-Gvir added.
Local residents however, posit that the real targets of the demonstration are not terrorists or their sympathizers but the Arab community as a whole.
“The right wants to highlight the story of Nashat Melhem a year after the attack with the aim of undermining the quiet in the village.That is why it was decided that we will also demonstrate, and prevent their visit,” said a social activist and Ara resident, Loius Kativ. “The parents of the terrorist are normal people who were forced to pay the price despite having no connection with the arrest,” Kativ added in reference to the fact that Melhem’s father was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack, and subsequently released.
Police block a road in Arara during search for Melhem's father
The demonstration would only foment further anger in the village, Kativ warned. “We did not see the State of Israel apologize for the (Duma) arson (attack) on the Dawabsheh family. I am surprised that the justice system has allowed these people to protest in our village. The target of the protest is not Nashat Melhem but the (desire) to blame the whole Arab population and brand them as terrorists,” he argued.
“Unfortunately, the courts are abandoning the Palestinian Arabs. We will stage our own protest...and try to prevent them from coming into the village. We know that the police always arrest the Palestinian-Arab side. Despite all the threats from the police that will not be tolerant, we are all prepared to pay the price. Tomorrow, we will be by the home of Nashat Melhem and the point where he was killed,” Kativ said.
Itamar Ben-Gvir (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)
Samar, another resident from Ara, who will also be participating in the counter-demonstration added, “We will not allow the right-wingers to enter here. They have no place in the village. We will do all in order to oust the racists who come to provoke us and to convey message of hate and racism.”
Like Kativ, Samar also promised that the residents would do all they could to block the activists’ entry “no matter what the price. The police will not intimidate us.”
