An estimated 1,500 Israeli Arabs took part on a Friday erev Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah protest in Um el-Fahm in the Nachal I’ron area of Israel. They were protesting the shooting of an armed Arab male by police on the previous weekend in the Galil as well as the growing Jewish effort to end religious discrimination on Har Habayis. A number of Arab Members of Knesset participated in the protest including Hanin Zoabi and the head of the Israel Islamic Association Northern Branch Sheikh Raid Salah. Zoabi blamed Israel Police for the fatal shooting, opting to ignore the fact the man who was fatally wounded approached a police vehicle was brandishing a knife.

On erev Shabbos, for the first time in weeks, police permitted unrestricted Muslim access to Har Habayis. A reported 40,000 Muslim worshipers attended Friday prayers.

Marchers also referred to PA (Palestinian Authority) Chairman Abu Mazen as “A traitor” for his continued security operation with Israeli security forces.

At another Friday protest, this one involving about 150 Israeli Arabs in Nachal I’ron, Arab MK Jamal Zahalka addressed the participants, many of whom were masked and burning tires in the roadway. He said “We will not permit anyone to harm al-Aqsa and our holy sites. The Beis Hamikdash is a myth and nothing more. Al-Aqsa is a living existing reality”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)