News
Livni, Herzog hold dialogue with local Arab leaders over unrest
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and opposition and Labour Party leader Isaac Herzog met yesterday with local Arab community leaders in an attempt to encourage calm following recent violent unrest.
In Jerusalem, tension and violence has simmered for the past few months, with regular clashes between local Arab youths and Israeli forces, while several Israelis have been killed in vehicle attacks. During the past week, the unrest has appeared to extend beyond Jerusalem. Two Israelis were stabbed to death by Palestinians in separate incidents in Tel Aviv and Gush Etzion. Last weekend, violent clashes took place in Arab communities in northern and central Israel after an Israeli border policeman shot dead a knife-wielding protestor who appeared to be in retreat. In a related development, Israeli authorities yesterday arrested a border policeman on suspicion of unlawfully shooting dead a Palestinian demonstrator in May.
In light of the violence, Livni and Herzog yesterday met with mayors of Arab towns at the Knesset. Livni said, “It is not possible to understand each other without dialogue. There is a danger that this conflict will catch religious elements from both sides. Another danger is that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has entered into Israeli territory and is affecting the relationship between Arabs and Jews in Israel.”
Meanwhile, Herzog said “there is no national debate about the need to live together – Jews and Arabs.” Like Livni, Herzog criticised the inflammatory nature of comments by some Jewish and Arab leaders, accusing them of seeking to make political capital. Herzog added, “our goal as responsible leadership is to lead together to enable calm and live side by side using through open dialogue.”
Mazen Gnaim, Mayor of Sakhnin and also head of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel thanked Livni and Herzog. He also criticised some of the recent comments on the situation made by government ministers and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but said “they must be stopped and calm must be restored.”