Druse youths protested and burned tires on Tuesday night as they continue protest over land expropriations for a new area natural gas line. The land owners insist they are not receiving fair compensation from the state.
Tuesday was a difficult day for police as the Druse community came out in large numbers to protest the gas line. In actuality, the gas line is not what is bothering them community leaders explain, who are angered at the unfair compensation they received for their land.
“We are brothers when it comes to fighting in the army, not when it comes to receiving fair treatment from the state”, one community member told reporters. He painfully expressed his anger and frustration, questioning why the Druse community serves in the IDF yet when it comes to basic rights as citizens; they are always regarded as second class.
On Tuesday, Hwy 70 was shut down between HaEmakim and Tishbi Junctions for most of the day as a result of the protests. About a dozen policemen were injured, some requiring transportation to a hospital.
Not making apologies, state officials explain the compensation given to the Druse community for the expropriation of about three kilometers (1.8 miles) of land is higher than given to farmers in the past, rejecting accusation of being treated as second class citizens.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
It may not really be about the compensation either.
If they think that in general they are treated as second class citizens even though they serve in the military, then it would be a variety of issues where they feel they are mistreated.
It really would not be this one issue.
They probably want a general redress of all their issues including some that might otherwise seem like small issues but that they might use as “examples” of how they think they are disrespected.