Islamic Movement launches anti-violence campaign

The Islamic Movement launched Monday a unique program aimed at fighting growing violence within Israel's Arab community.

The "Safe Society" program has won the support of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee and will come into effect as of Monday in all Arab communities.

"I am not relieving the police of its duty but we shall not wait until it addresses our problem," said head of the movement's northern branch, Sheikh Raed Salah. Salah was sent to prison last month after being convicted of assaulting a police officer.

Data presented during a conference dedicated to the new campaign suggests that the extent of violence is far greater within Israel's Arab community than in the Jewish sector.

Arabs to fight violence (Photo: Courtesy of pls48.net )

The murder of Nazareth Deputy Mayor Ali Salam's son last week prompted the Islamic Movement and its leader to draft a convention which calls on Israeli Arabs to fight violence. The convention urges them to denounce anyone who incites to violence and hatred and to maintain a violence-free discourse. It further suggests creating mediation committees for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. In addition, Arab council heads were asked to serve as "unifying rather than dividing" elements.

The convention also addresses election campaigns, which are usually accompanied by numerous violent incidents and calls for mutual respect among all parties.

"There are many reasons for the growing violence in our community," project manager Marwan Jabra said. "These include the weak parental status as well as exploitation by the Israeli establishment directed at the entire Arab sector."

"The Israeli establishment is interested in seeing violence within Arab society growing," he said.