Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 26, 2009 Shvat 1, 5769 | | Israel Time: 12:52 (EST+7)
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Gideon Levy / Acre Jews warn: Arabs will kill you with knives
By Gideon Levy
Tags: Arabs, Israel News 

Click here for more articles by Gideon Levy

A young woman - kerchief on her head, baby in her arms - stood behind the barred windows of her apartment yesterday and shouted: "Get all the Arabs out of here... We don't want them here... They've made our lives a misery."

The balcony blinds of the adjacent apartment are shattered. Its former residents, the family of Mahmoud Samary, are gone, having temporarily fled the hail of stones on their home. The young woman yelled: "They should get out. The Arabs are taking all our girls."
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It was Saturday afternoon at number 18, Burla Street in Acre - part of a crowded, shamefully neglected housing project where three Arab families and 29 Jewish families inhabit a single building. At the entrance to the building, a group of policemen stood around idly. The street was lined with cars with shattered windows.

It was not only Bosnia that Acre called to mind yesterday; the city was also reminiscent of Nablus - checkpoints at every corner, hundreds of policemen under every parched tree. A city that could have been a tourist attraction was instead the most miserable in Israel. My colleague Jack Khoury, an Israeli Arab, said as we entered the neighborhood: "I don't believe I'm traveling here in such fear and tension."

A young man who lives in the project told us aggressively: "Don't you dare enter the Old City. The Arabs will kill you with knives." He would like us to leave his neighborhood, too.

But the Old City, just a few minutes' drive away, was another world: In that beautiful but neglected neighborhood, which was virtually empty yesterday, people were mourning the cancelation of Acre's theater festival and still speaking of peace and coexistence.

Acre went up in flames all at once. It was a clash between poor and poor, Jews and Arabs, egged on by nationalists, with a religious holiday as the catalyst - the most dangerous of all possible clashes, which threatens to ignite a conflagration. The fire could be out by press time, but as of yesterday afternoon it seemed liable to break out anew: Young men from the housing project had agreed to meet at 7:30 P.M. that evening, God only knows why.

Yet even if the fire is extinguished now, it will reignite someday. This binational city is sitting on a volcano - a volcano of nationalism and distress, fear and hatred.

If the housing project was the tensest party of the city, the saddest was the Old City, where the empty halls were all that remained of the theater festival that was supposed to have taken place this week. The spotlights had been removed, the actors and directors were gone, the tables in the cafe on the lawn remained folded. Instead of the festival, Acre got a scandal - the scandal of its cancelation.

The technical crews said it was outrageous to cancel the most important event of Acre's year "because of 100 or 200 psychos." They suggested holding a reconciliation festival instead, and promised to ensure the guests' safety. "You also fight with your wife, but then you go to bed with her," analogized one, Asfari Khalil.

Munir Abu al-Tayir, who sells pomegranate juice, had thus far sold exactly two glasses all day. At a nearby felafel booth, a young Arab responded to Jewish claims that the riots were provoked by an Arab driver blasting music on Yom Kippur by saying that during Ramadan, the Jews had offended Arab sensibilities by drinking beer, but there were no Arab riots. Issam Jalem, owner of a barbershop, warned that without the festival, "things will not be good."

To all, it was clear that Mayor Shimon Lankri's hasty decision to cancel the festival had one purpose, and one only: to punish the Arabs who earn their living from the event.

F., an Arab resident of the largely-Jewish Kibbutz Galuyot Street, fled his house with his wife and children; now he fears the house will be torched. Salim Najami, a city councilor, denounced all extremists, Jewish and Arab alike. Daoud Halila, director of an Arab non-profit organization, accused the police of "pampering the Jews." Long-time communist Salim Atrash blamed the disengagement from Gaza, saying an extremist yeshiva that opened in the city following the pullout has been fanning the flames.

Atrash pulled out a copy of a notice that has been circulating on the Internet: "We will no longer buy anything from Arabs, we will not honor any of their holidays or any place of theirs. Arabs of Acre, go find your place in the villages." The notice was signed with an epigram: "A Jew is the son of a king, an Arab is the son of a dog."

Welcome to a little Bosnia in the making.

Related articles:
  • Three Jewish rioters hurt, Arab home set ablaze as Acre violence resumes
  • Haaretz Editorial / An unnecessary prize for violence
  • Livni tells Acre residents: Don't take law into your own hands
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      1.   Oh great and wise Gideon hath spoken 03:56  |  Allon 12/10/08
      2.   Welcome to a Bopsnia of YOUR making, Levy! 04:02  |  Yaakov K. 12/10/08
      3.   This outlook is completely out of touch with reality 04:21  |  Marcella 12/10/08
      4.   Happy New Year everybody 04:36  |  newageblues 12/10/08
      5.   Someone needs to get control 05:15  |  Mark Lincoln 12/10/08
      6.   Sick Levy at it again, guilty of incitement 06:14  |  Sam 12/10/08
      7.   Marcella #3 06:16  |  Miriam Ashkelon 12/10/08
      8.   Stop the Violence 07:28  |  Roxy 12/10/08
      9.   Gideon, Withdraw from Acco for peace ? 08:19  |  Jimmy Dhimmi 12/10/08
      10.   The great left wing dream of coexistance shatterd once again. 08:44  |  Jew 12/10/08
      11.   Yom kippur is the holiest day for Israel and the Jews 08:56  |  lily 12/10/08
      12.   We never had coexistence 09:28  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 12/10/08
      13.   Levy has a go at even-handedness, but just can`t do it 10:06  |  Freethinker 12/10/08
      14.   revealing article 10:32  |  susie 12/10/08
      15.   You deserve each other 10:39  |  Observer 12/10/08
      16.   Jewish nationalists are picking up stones again 10:48  |  Yossi 12/10/08
      17.   Yom Kippur the holiest day for Jews? 10:52  |  Avi 12/10/08
      18.   This article is a nasty piece of work. 11:12  |  Matt C 12/10/08
      19.   re Acre Jews Warn about ARabs with knives 11:16  |  Chafeeka 12/10/08
      20.   And what do the Arabs warn? 11:20  |  Jonathan 12/10/08
      21.   Without dramatic change of course... (much) more trouble ahead !! 11:29  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/10/08
      22.   Serious, not unsolvable problems 11:32  |  Ilan 12/10/08
      23.   Lucky you, Gideon 11:35  |  truly yours 12/10/08
      24.   The raeal aims of zionists!! 11:36  |  B.Saleem 12/10/08
      25.   Levy`s one and only script: Always Blame the Jews. 11:37  |  Ilil 12/10/08
      26.   # 8 Roxy is spot on! 11:50  |  Michael J 12/10/08
      27.   What would happen if Gideon Levy... 12:10  |  Joe Sittizen 12/10/08
      28.   Malmö Sweden 12:11  |  lady from USA 12/10/08
      29.   e.m Jordan is Palse 12:20  |  lady from USA 12/10/08
      30.   Observer who do you represent? 12:21  |  x-ray 12/10/08
      31.   Gazan, you`re so jealous that it shines out of every word 12:24  |  x-ray 12/10/08
      32.   There are 3 peoples living in Bosnia: 12:29  |  Kris Lazar 12/10/08
      33.   Overnight amnesia 12:33  |  Esther 12/10/08
      34.   Ilan`s wording might be offensive 12:43  |  Jackie 12/10/08
      35.   Sweden waits for you Gideon! 13:11  |  kobi former swede 12/10/08
      36.   non respect on both parts 13:12  |  Charles 12/10/08
      37.   B.Saleem 13:15  |  Ahmed from Budapest 12/10/08
      38.   Them or us and Danish cartoons 13:47  |  Fritz T. 12/10/08
      39.   coexistence for Gideon 13:48  |  ed 12/10/08
      40.   To SALEM from Gaza 13:54  |  Avraham 12/10/08
      41.   Esther 14:02  |  lady from USA 12/10/08
      42.   B.Saleem 14:03  |  Avraham 12/10/08
      43.   The Western way 14:04  |  Boris 12/10/08
      44.   Is ALL OF IT like that, or depends on who`s writing the article? 14:17  |  S 12/10/08
      45.   Gazan, thanks for your opinions 14:29  |  Alicia 12/10/08
      46.   Gideon Levy and antisemitism 14:30  |  carlitos mendez 12/10/08
      47.   Mr Gideon Levy ...Thanks for helping 14:32  |  israeli 12/10/08
      48.   Levy is muslim in hiding 14:33  |  Jacob 12/10/08
      49.   Acre - Two Peoples stuck with each other 14:34  |  Tzfonit 12/10/08
      50.   To Saleem in Gaza 14:49  |  T 12/10/08
      51.   Thank you Gideon 14:56  |  Carlitos Mendez 12/10/08
      52.   The Arabs want to turn Acre into an Arab city. 15:34  |  Jean Van Daem 12/10/08
      53.   This is shameful 15:38  |  Peter Dames 12/10/08
      54.   THEY MUST GO 16:08  |  Michael Kavodi 12/10/08
      55.   So mucy for Judaism being a religion of peace.. go home to Europe 16:08  |  anti-racist 12/10/08
      56.   Not so holy 16:11  |  D. 12/10/08
      57.   Hi Gideon, happy to read you again, but ... 16:19  |  Edith 12/10/08
      58.   I Have Traveled To Akko 30 Times A Yeaf For 4 Years-This Has Been 16:21  |  Simcha 12/10/08
      59.   To Gideon Levy: Your opinon doesnt matter! 16:26  |  Major Majority 12/10/08
      60.   Lady #41 16:40  |  Esther 12/10/08
      61.   Co Existance is a Myth 16:42  |  Ron 12/10/08
      62.   anti-racist,you go home 16:49  |  Canadian native 12/10/08
      63.   Simcha #58 16:54  |  Esther 12/10/08
      64.   "You also fight with your wife, but then you go to bed with her" 17:05  |  Jon 12/10/08
      65.   #21 Swiss , talk sense , no Israeli Arab wants to 17:16  |  TOMY 12/10/08
      66.   11 Lily Arabs defiled Yom Kippur twice 17:20  |  Ibn Musa 12/10/08
      67.   Eye for an eye??? 17:29  |  hope 12/10/08
      68.   Avi 17:37  |  Pamela 12/10/08
      69.   Levy-never strays from his course 17:38  |  Arie 12/10/08
      70.   Coexistence: If you will it, it is no dream 17:47  |  Itzik 12/10/08
      71.   GIDEON levy makes from a progrom against Jews a joke!!! 17:50  |  ARTHUR 12/10/08
      72.   Edith 1940 Jews 17:51  |  SDHD 12/10/08
      73.   Peter Dames: no this wasn`t about religion 17:55  |  Ilan 12/10/08
      74.   Acre Crystal-Night: Jewish stores stoned by Anti-Jewish Rioters 17:59  |  Rob AA 12/10/08
      75.   Ron, ethnic cleansing is a war crime... 18:10  |  BBSNews 12/10/08
      76.   "lady" from USA, question... 18:17  |  BBSNews 12/10/08
      77.   WE NEED A MARCH FOR PEACE AND COEXISTENCE NOW 18:33  |  B`Galil 12/10/08
      78.   Swiss (Dino) #21 what a ``smart`` chap you are 18:37  |  Gil 12/10/08
      79.   Gideon Levy Betrays Himself With A Word 18:37  |  Jeff Northridge 12/10/08
      80.   #11 Lily - Actually, Shabbat is holiest day. Also, from what I.. 18:38  |  B`Galil 12/10/08
      81.   ACRE JEWS AND ARABS 18:39  |  BARUCH YIROEL 12/10/08
      82.   #61 Ron "In California" (of course) 18:45  |  B`Galil 12/10/08
      83.   Afraid of B Saleem`s Truth 19:24  |  Gray 12/10/08
      84.   BBS - the usual BS 19:45  |  SDHD 12/10/08
      85.   Gideon Levy correctly portrays Jews who don`t want coexistence... 20:12  |  Smadar 12/10/08
      86.   Great article 20:15  |  Dave Duncan 12/10/08
      87.   Gray`s "terrifying truth" 20:43  |  SDHD 12/10/08
      88.   Gideon the Real Inciter of Hatred and Violence 20:49  |  Baruch Gold 12/10/08
      89.   SDHD doesn`t know what a rioter is? 20:54  |  BBSNews 12/10/08
      90.   Precaution Not Punishment, truth Not Lies please... 20:54  |  Baruch Gold 12/10/08
      91.   #52 Mr Daem. 20:59  |  elsie 12/10/08
      92.   It`s any excuse will do when you want to riot 21:00  |  Mark Lincoln 12/10/08
      93.   BBS -- really without a clue 21:16  |  SDHD 12/10/08
      94.   "Bi-national" ? All in Acre Are Israeli! 21:21  |  Baruch Gold 12/10/08
      95.   Baruch Gold on Gideon`s "hopes"... 21:22  |  BBSNews 12/10/08
      96.   Damn those lopsided police and wicked mayor.... 21:28  |  Dutch 12/10/08
      97.   SDHD, care to show some factual documentation of your accusations 21:33  |  BBSNews 12/10/08
      98.   B`Galil; Best Wishes..... 21:53  |  Gray 12/10/08
      99.   To 82 22:01  |  Ron 12/10/08
      100.   Quit Tormenting B`Galil..... 22:05  |  Gray 12/10/08
      101.   WHOSE Land is it anyway.......? 22:07  |  Dagma 12/10/08
      102.   To 75 22:10  |  Ron 12/10/08
      103.   Who is in favour of peaceful co-existence and mutual respect? 22:39  |  Ben Alofs 12/10/08
      104.   STD? Defender of Thugs..... 22:39  |  Gray 12/10/08
      105.   lady from USA 22:41  |  Janice 12/10/08
      106.   Jeff northridge from the comforts of california 22:42  |  Frank Raheb 12/10/08
      107.   B`Galil; Best Wishes, You`re Not Alone..... 22:48  |  Gray 12/10/08
      108.   #77 B`Galil, thanks for your wise posts 22:56  |  Ben Alofs 12/10/08
      109.   Jean Van Damn 23:13  |  Janice 12/10/08
      110.   #107...Gray..if you`re going to lie.... 23:15  |  Nemesis 12/10/08
      111.   these respondents are sick fanatics 23:18  |  raymond deane 12/10/08
      112.   True colors 23:22  |  Tomas 12/10/08
      113.   Gideon show us the way to CA 23:27  |  HS 12/10/08
      114.   #85 Smadar 23:28  |  THK 12/10/08
      115.   #65 So, so ... 23:34  |  Edith 12/10/08
      116.   #74 I will do my share, but you need to ... 23:39  |  Edith 12/10/08
      117.   #63 Esther 23:47  |  HS 12/10/08
      118.   Also Janice, the non-existent constitution... 23:51  |  BBSNews 12/10/08
      119.   BBS - most certainly without a clue 23:55  |  SDHD 12/10/08
      120.   SDHD, if you had a clue who I am... 00:02  |  BBSNews 13/10/08
      121.   Frank`s nationality was imposed on him 00:06  |  SDHD 13/10/08
      122.   No Gray Matter experienced overwhelming kindness 00:07  |  SDHD 13/10/08
      123.   B`Galil, you reaffirm some of my idealism about the conflict... 00:09  |  BBSNews 13/10/08
      124.   Arabs and Jews in Acre have common interests 00:19  |  Ben Alofs 13/10/08
      125.   Janice`s Nakba 00:40  |  SDHD 13/10/08
      126.   To Janice # 109 - Palestnian History? 00:45  |  Dolly 13/10/08
      127.   Concur entirely with Ben Alofs #108 00:57  |  Esther 13/10/08
      128.   Knowing that BBS is full of BS 01:38  |  SDHD 13/10/08
      129.   Ignorant of history much Dolly? 01:52  |  BBSNews 13/10/08
      130.   Clueless SDHD goes right on and flipflops... 02:01  |  BBSNews 13/10/08
      131.   Acre Jews warn....... 02:01  |  eduardo novo 13/10/08
      132.   Frank Raheb # 106 Citizenship Cannot Be Imposed 02:13  |  Jeff Northridge 13/10/08
      133.   CO-EXISTENCE does not exist in Saudi Arabia, the Gaza strip, West 02:47  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 13/10/08
      134.   Not voluntary Northridge... 03:44  |  BBSNews 13/10/08
      135.   Acre Arabs Riots Appears Contained Bcz on Oct.2000,Police killed 03:55  |  Joseph.E 13/10/08
      136.   Your ad by the Jewish republicans 04:48  |  allan silver 13/10/08
      137.   Your ad by the Jewish republicans 04:48  |  allan silver 13/10/08
      138.   Gideon, you talk a lot, you do very little. 04:52  |  Harry 13/10/08
      139.   jews,arabs 05:17  |  kizi 13/10/08
      140.   Caused by religious holiday and nationalism? 05:41  |  Marc 13/10/08
      141.   #77 B`Galil. Organize your "coexistence march" in Iran. 06:00  |  Chaim 13/10/08
      142.   is RELIGION the ROOT of all EVIL? 06:35  |  eric 13/10/08
      143.   B`Galil, Ben Alofs, Esther, Edith, et al... 06:51  |  eric 13/10/08
      144.   Look at the seeds 07:00  |  Davidson 13/10/08
      145.   # 72 to sdhd re: 1940germany/2008israel 07:03  |  eric 13/10/08
      146.   Davidson`s seeds 07:10  |  SDHD 13/10/08
      147.   To Ben Alofs # 124 - Arabs............. and the Jewish people 07:34  |  Dagma 13/10/08
      148.   sdhd, more arabs immigrated here than jews? 07:35  |  Frank Raheb 13/10/08
      149.   mr northridge aliens? 07:37  |  Frank Raheb 13/10/08
      150.   #77B` Gilil, Israel needs an earthquake not a peace march 08:06  |  Dutch 13/10/08
      151.   Not necessarily voluntary Northridge... - 2nd try 08:06  |  BBSNews 13/10/08
      152.   Jews being Warned......... 08:21  |  Dagma 13/10/08
      153.   GIDEON fogets the Arabs that turned out with axes to "avenge" 09:47  |  PETER SM 13/10/08
      154.   # 65 TOMY / 78 Gil (2nd try) Did you miss the news....???` 09:55  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/10/08
      155.   #33, Esther, overall amnesia 10:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/10/08
      156.   Dutch (#150) Do you know where Acre is? 10:17  |  Gil 13/10/08
      157.   Swiss (Dino) #154 OK Dino go on offer them Gaza 16:06  |  Gil 13/10/08
      158.   CORRECTION #107 19:20  |  Gray 13/10/08
      159.   #158...Gray...still wrong 21:22  |  Nemesis 13/10/08
      160.   Nemesis; Grabbing At Straws.... 00:49  |  Gray 14/10/08
      161.   SDHD` seeds 04:42  |  Davidson 14/10/08
      162.   Acre 07:21  |  Joseph Hellul 14/10/08
      163.   Oh yes, Gil just follow the yellow brick road ... 09:39  |  Dutch 14/10/08
      164.   Marcella, you`re right on one point. 20:06  |  Kmansfield 22/10/08
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