by Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom Staff and Reuters
An estimated 20,000 people take part in rally in northern town of Umm al-Fahm • Demonstrators hold up Islamic Movement and Palestinian national flags and chant, "With our spirit and blood, we shall redeem you, Al-Aqsa."
The demonstration in Umm al-Fahm, Saturday
Photo credit: Reuters  |
Thousands of Israeli Arabs protested on Saturday against the outlawing of the Islamic Movement's Northern Branch -- a group that Israel says has played a central role in stoking the ongoing wave of Palestinian terrorism.
The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet banned the Northern Branch on Nov. 17.
An estimated 20,000 people took part in Saturday's rally in the northern town of Umm al-Fahm, making it one of the largest Israeli Arab demonstrations in recent years. The event was organized by the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee.
Demonstrators marched through the streets of Umm al-Fahm holding up Islamic Movement and Palestinian national flags and chanting, "With our spirit and blood, we shall redeem you, Al-Aqsa."
Participants in the rally included Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh and Northern Branch leader Sheikh Raed Salah. Salah, who is set to start an 11-month prison sentence in the coming days, was warmly greeted by the demonstrators on Saturday.
On Sunday, Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan (Habayit Hayehudi) will file a complaint with the Knesset Ethics Committee against Arab MKs who took part in Saturday's demonstration. "Elected officials are undermining the country's sovereignty, and they must be held accountable," Ben-Dahan said.
Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom Staff and Reuters
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=30041
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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