Following the violent protest against Operation Brothers Return by Israeli Arab citizens in the Nachal I’ron area, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called to view these protestors as terrorists.

The approximate 400 Um el-Fahm residents tried blocking Rt. 60, the main area vehicular route. Border police were compelled to use riot control adjuncts to clear the roadway and restore order on erev Shabbos 29 Sivan 5774. The senior minister explains “The hardcore members of the Israel Islamic Movement northern branch, particularly those in Um el-Fahm, are a fifth column of terrorism operating in the Israeli Arab sector”.

He feels very strongly that the Israeli Arab municipalities in the area known as The Triangle must become part of a new Palestinian state in a peace agreement between Israel and the PA.

When referring to the Israeli Arab protestors as “terrorists”, Lieberman was referring to calls from the marchers to kidnap additional Jews. Lieberman said he will raise the matter with party colleague Yitzchak Aharonovich, who is the minister of public security and responsible for Israel Police.

Lieberman also plans to call for a special cabinet session to address the radicalization of the Israeli Arab leadership and the need for the government to recognize this alarming trend.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)