Thousands protest
Photo: Ido Erez
Thousands protest house demolitions in Qalansawe
Arab MKs and mayors join to protest the demolition of 9 illegally built homes; 'It's hard for the government to see successes in Arab society,' said one former homeowner.
Thousands came on Friday morning to protest the demolition of 9 illegally built homes in the Arab town of Qalansawe.
Amongst those who attended were MKs from the Joint List, including Basel Ghattas and Hanin Zoabi, and mayors who promised to keep up the fight until the demolitions cease. Many protestors waved Palestinian flags.
צילום: עידו ארז
Hasun Mahluf, an owner of one of the homes that was demolished, said, "Since our homes were demolished, we haven't been able to sleep or eat. Every time that we look at the houses, we're overcome with tears. It's extremely painful to us. Demolishing houses means that the state also intends to occupy our lands, which are ours."
(Photo: Ido Erez)
(Photo: Ido Erez)
Zia Mahluf, whose house was also demolished, added, "Unfortunately, the government wants to expel us from our lands at any price. It's hard for the government to see successes in Arab society. It's the government that's just with its slogans and lying promises. If Netanyahu remains in the government, he'll destroy our lives because this is a racist and discriminatory government, and it's not interested in the Arab citizens. What's important to it is deserting us."
MK Basel Ghattas (Photo: Ido Erez)
(Photo: Ido Erez)
MK Hanin Zoabi (Photo: Ido Erez)
Ahmed Katib of Qalansawe compared the issue of demolishing houses in his town to that of Amona. "They destroyed our homes to tell the residents of Amona and all the racists that they also destroy Arab communities. If the government decides to demolish houses, we'll stay in our homes and won't leave, even if they destroy them on our heads. We don't give a damn about the government, the prime minister or the police."
Tayibe Mayor Shuaa Mansur spoke on behalf of the mayors of Arab towns. He referred to the Facebook post from Benjamin Netanyahu in which the prime minster stated that the government was enforcing the law equally as regards home demolitions. "He has to understand that we have one law that's not written on the books, and it's the law of shame. What you wrote is a shame on democracy all over the world. "
