A number of weeks ago, the Otzma Yisrael Party applied for a police permit to hold a march in the Nachal I’ron region Arab municipality of Musmous while carrying the banner “No obligations, no benefits”, referring to the fact that Arabs do not serve in the IDF.

Police were inclined to decline the permit request citing it will likely lead to unrests, but attorney Itamar Ben-Givir announced if that will be the response he will petition the High Court of Justice. Ben-Givir explains that in the past, the High Court overruled police regarding right-wing marches in Um el-Fahm, resulting in police granting the permit. Police stipulated however that they are limiting participation to 55 people entering the community, one bus.

Otzma Yisrael hopefuls MK Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, MK Prof. Aryeh Eldad, Baruch Marzel, Aryeh King and Itamar Ben-Givir arrived on Tuesday, 4 Shevat 5773 during the morning hours, armed with Israeli flags, maps and signs. Needless to say there was a large police contingent on hand to keep the visitors and local residents far apart. They were met by hundreds of local Arab residents, who protested their presence. There was a great deal of noise and the hostility in the air was palpable, but the march passed without any major incidents.

Ben-Ari announced “this has been our message all along as it cannot be that there are communities in the Galil and Negev that have no obligations, yet they enjoy the benefits of living in Israel.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)