Shfaram memorial rally draws hundreds

Hundreds marched through the streets of Shfaram on Monday evening to mark three years since the murder of four of the city's residents by Jewish terrorist Eden Natan Zada.

"Three years, and it seems not a day has passed. The tremendous pain stays with us," said Adel Turqi, who lost two of his daughters in the attack. "Their room has stayed as though they had only left it yesterday."

Hadash chairman, MK Mohammad Barakeh, also spoke at the rally. "Anyone who raises his hand against the Arab community, or against the residents of Shfaram, will see that hand broken," he said.

"The men were acting in self-defense, and if they had not done so, every minute would have tolled more victims. And to those who think we are a passing phenomenon I say: we were born here, and we shall die here. This is our homeland."

Barakeh told Ynet that he is demanding a commission of inquiry be formed to investigate the attack. "We must track Zada's movements, who supported him and who sowed that seed of evil in him."

Shfaram's mayor, Ursan Yassin, was noticeably absent from the rally and attendance was thin. Balad MK Said Nafaa, who was also at the event, said: "There's no doubt that in recent times there is less and less

participation. This stems mostly from frustration. It's like people have come to terms that this is their fate in this country. Every few years there is a new remembrance day, we have several of them, and it appears some people believe coming to a rally like this will not do any good."

Army deserter Eden Natan Zada opened fire on bus passengers traveling through the Druze neighborhood in Shfaram in August 2005. Four people were killed and nine others were wounded. Thousands of residents swarmed the bus, throwing bottles and rocks. The crowd seized Zada and lynched him to death.