Protest: Don't put lynch perpetrators on trial
Hundreds of residents of Arab town of Shfaram call not to put those who perpetrated lynch of Jewish soldier terrorist Eden Natan Zada, who murdered four Shfaram residents in August 2005. MK Barakeh: 'We will break any hand raised against us'
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Shfaram Saturday to protest the intent to put on trial those who participated in the lynching of an Israeli terrorist in town in August 2005.
The protesters gathered near the town's hall and called on the state prosecutors and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz not to issue an indictment against the 14 people allegedly involved in killing the soldier Eden Natan Zada, who shot and murdered four Shfaram residents in a Jewish terror attack on a bus in August 2005.
Hadash chairman, Member of Knesset Mohammad Barakeh, MK Hanna Swaid, MK Jamal Zahalka (National Democratic Assembly), and acting mayor of Shfaram Anis Meshayel participated in the protest, which was organized by a member of Shfaram's public council and city council member Ahmad Hamdi (Hadash).
At the demonstration, MK Barakeh called not to judge the victim. According to him, "Every minute that would lengthen the life of Natan Zada could have cost more victims from the residents of Shfaram."
Barakeh added that the events must be investigated that brought Natan Zada to carry out his crimes, and called "to investigate the army officials who knew he is a dangerous defector."
In addition, Barakeh called to investigate the security officials "who knew what kind of fascist hornets nest is present in the settlements, and didn't do anything."
The protestors called to investigate the legitimacy granted to racism in Israeli society. MK Barakeh said at the demonstration, "We will take action to break any hand that is raised against us."
The protestors promised that if the current process continues and an indictment is indeed issued against those who carried out the lynch, they will escalate the public struggle and will declare a general strike in Shfaram.
To Ynet's question as to why he is protecting those who took the law into their hands and determined Zada's fate without a trial even after he allegedly posed no threat to those on the bus, Barakeh responded, "Even the president can't rape anymore, and yet there is consensus in the society that he needs to resign. There are incidents that cry out to Heaven. This is a classic case of self-defense."
In the terrorist attack that took place at the beginning of August 2005, the defecting soldier Eden Natan Zada opened fire while wearing an IDF uniform on bus line 165 in the Druze neighborhood of Shfaram. Four people were killed from the fire, and nine others were wounded.
Thousands of residents congregated and threw stones and bottles at the bus. Angry protesters managed to enter the bus, and killed the murderer. About a year after the terror attack, the police successfully located and arrested some people suspected of lynching the soldier who carried out the terror attack.
