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Last update - 01:17 01/10/2007
Israeli Arabs demonstrate in Umm al-Fahm to mark October 2000 riots
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent

At the junction near the entrance to Umm al-Fahm, several dozen political
activists demonstrated on Saturday with family members of those killed during the October 2000 clashes. They carried huge Palestinian flags and posters with the photographs of the 13 dead, the fourth such demonstration in the past two weeks.

Seven years have passed since the incident that redefined the relationship between Arab citizens of Israel and the state. To date - and contrary to the spirit of the recommendations made by the Or Commission examining the events - no indictment was brought against any of those who shot the 13 dead, nor against any senior officials.

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The Justice Ministry issued a statement recently saying that the attorney general has held many discussions on the matter, and these deliberations have still not been completed.

The events of 2000 will be officially commemorated with a procession at 3 PM Monday down the central street of Sakhnin, with the participation of most of the bereaved families.

A candlelight procession will be held at Kafr Kana tonight at 8 PM. Leaders of the Arab community will also visit the various memorial sites in the north.

The Monitoring Committee, the most senior public organization of the Arab community, has called on party activists not to participate in the processions carrying party flags.

There is a fundamental disagreement among Arab political organizations in Israel on how to view the October incidents. On one end of the spectrum stands Hadash, which in recent years has followed a path aiming to moderate the protest. On the other end stands Balad and the Islamic Movement, which calls for intensifying the protest. Central to the
argument is the historical context of the events.

In contrast with previous anniversaries, there have been no calls by the Monitoring Committee to hold a strike in the Arab communities. Last year there was a vociferous debate on the issue, and in the end it was agreed to follow the Hadash recommendation and avoid a strike.

Only a few hundred people participated in the commemorations in Sakhnin last year, which was very disappointing for the bereaved families and the politicians, and served as further proof that the general public does not support major protests.

At Hadash they say that the incidents of October 2000 are the most significant events in a line of events that influence the Arab Israeli public, but stress that the most important event is Land Day in 1976.

During those events, Rakah, the predecessor of Hadash, was the organizing force, and six Israeli Arabs were killed in clashes with the authorities.
Balad, on the other hand, considers the October 2000 clashes as a breaking point.

Hadash chairman MK Mohammed Barakeh told Haaretz this week that Land Day "is a watershed, the event that separates between two periods. Before that day we followed Mapai and its offshoots, and after that we emerged tall."

Barakeh stressed that it should not be forgotten that it is the Israeli establishment that is responsible for the crimes carried out on October 2000, because "it drowned in blood" those who tried to "express legitimate solidarity with the Palestinian people."

In 1976, the Islamic Movement was still not considered a significant political power in the Arab street, and Balad had still not been established. However in 2000, both movements were quite dominant, and both invest considerable effort in commemorating the incidents.

"This is a central event in the history of the Arab Israeli public," MK Jamal Zahalka, chairman of Balad, told Haaretz this week. "It does not compete with Land Day, but it is no less important. Politically, the events of October 2000 are very important to us."
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  1.   You mean Arabs living in Israel 1 01:34  |  ottomatik 01/10/07
  2.   THEY NEVER HAD THE RIGHT TO PROTEST 02:12  |  Refugee 01/10/07
  3.   refugee not exactly 02:40  |  alan 01/10/07
  4.   Israeli Arabs 02:41  |  rondi 01/10/07
  5.   Help them 03:41  |  Gene 01/10/07
  6.   The T word 03:44  |  Ron 01/10/07
  7.   Help them relocate to the West Bank. 04:32  |  ottomatik 01/10/07
  8.   Not happy? Let them vote with their feet 05:33  |  * BEN JABO 01/10/07
  9.   #6 Ron CA 05:36  |  * BEN JABO 01/10/07
  10.   ISRAELI ARABS SHOULD DECIDE 06:27  |  D.Cishon 01/10/07
  11.   "They carried huge Palestinian flags" 06:50  |  PETER SM 01/10/07
  12.   Israeli Arabs 08:05  |  Matthew 01/10/07
  13.   #11 Palis Flag 08:51  |  Marcelo 01/10/07
  14.   They know how to yell injustice 09:40  |  Big Al 01/10/07
  15.   here is what israel should do 09:51  |  giora 01/10/07
  16.   what are they but a bunch of poseurs 09:58  |  giora 01/10/07
  17.   we must thank umm al fahm for making a continuous nuisance 10:00  |  andifnot 01/10/07
  18.   When will these Arabs apologize for aiding our enemies? 10:11  |  Dani 01/10/07
  19.   Let them 10:15  |  Joe 01/10/07
  20.   Umm Al Fahm, Palestine 10:23  |  Slibovitz 01/10/07
  21.   BEN JIBBERISH #9 10:32  |  Del 01/10/07
  22.   THE MORAL OF THIS STORY.. 10:45  |  SM 01/10/07
  23.   as i have said the transfer of all arabs is the only viable answe 11:01  |  victor hardman 01/10/07
  24.   WHICH Arab country would allow the enemy flag to be carried. 11:01  |  PETER SM 01/10/07
  25.   "REFUGEE"No rights?Daily demos at the anti homicide bomber fence! 11:13  |  PETER SM 01/10/07
  26.   If you want Solidarity with Palestine, Leave 11:31  |  Efox 01/10/07
  27.   If you don`t want to get shot, don`t riot 11:32  |  Efox 01/10/07
  28.   pals already has their country, it`s call JORDAN. arabs, get lost 11:33  |  mary for jews 01/10/07
  29.   Carrying Palestine Flags??? 11:33  |  Jakarta 01/10/07
  30.   why should israel bother.... 11:40  |  ravi 01/10/07
  31.   TO REMEMBER THE WEEK THEY ACTED LIKE `FIFTH COLUMN` ANIMALS 11:46  |  Tom Bell 01/10/07
  32.   ravi compare and contrast 11:52  |  raj babbar 01/10/07
  33.   ravi "lower forms of life.no one is to be punished" 11:55  |  amitabh bachan 01/10/07
  34.   ravi the question stands 11:58  |  dimple kapadia 01/10/07
  35.   ravi this is important 12:01  |  punjabiwallah 01/10/07
  36.   Out of your own mouths 12:03  |  Murray 01/10/07
  37.   ravi i would like to congratulate india 12:04  |  gambit 01/10/07
  38.   Tom Bell.31. It is the opposite of what you claim. 12:32  |  Del 01/10/07
  39.   7, 8, 15, 20, 23, 26... 12:34  |  Tarik 01/10/07
  40.   # 21 del 12:36  |  Axel 01/10/07
  41.   #38Del- TOO BAD JEWISH POLICE DIDN`T DIE EH? 12:50  |  Tom Bell 01/10/07
  42.   Two things I find worthy of note.... 13:01  |  Tess 01/10/07
  43.   The challenge for Israel 13:02  |  Murray 01/10/07
  44.   They may soon be marching in Palestine 13:17  |  Yonatan 01/10/07
  45.   One cannot be both an Israeli and a Palestinian 13:24  |  Yonatan 01/10/07
  46.   ARABS TELL 99 LIES FOR EVRY ONE TRUTH - NO CREDIBILITY AT ALL 13:24  |  ATTA TYPPESH 01/10/07
  47.   The gallant Israelis killed 140 Palestinians beforethe first 13:28  |  Apartheid 01/10/07
  48.   Refugee (in Australia) # 2 13:30  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  49.   Jakarta # 29 13:32  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  50.   ravi # 30 13:33  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  51.   Murray # 36 13:37  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  52.   #47heidi of boston and apples and oranges 13:37  |  victor hardman 01/10/07
  53.   Colonial powers always quick to shoot down demonstrators. Modern 13:41  |  Apartheid 01/10/07
  54.   Tarik 39 13:42  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  55.   Tom Bell #38 Israel urges restraint on Burmese! 13:43  |  Del 01/10/07
  56.   Axel # 40 13:45  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  57.   Del # 38 13:46  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  58.   3 Alan I suppose if homeless people squatted on your land you 13:50  |  Apartheid 01/10/07
  59.   Israeli police and military never shoot a settler even in the 14:00  |  Apartheid 01/10/07
  60.   apartheid what a dumbo 14:07  |  teaparty 01/10/07
  61.   apartheid " a lot of people were killed by bombs" 14:09  |  teaparty 01/10/07
  62.   racist "Apartheid" from Boston 14:09  |  peter 01/10/07
  63.   apartheid italy does not have barbarians on the gate 14:11  |  teaparty 01/10/07
  64.   apartheid "homeless people" is history 14:13  |  teaparty 01/10/07
  65.   apartheid other refugees are the following 14:21  |  teaparty 01/10/07
  66.   Chanah #57 14:30  |  Del 01/10/07
  67.   64 Teaparty: Jewish terrorists were the first to target civilians 14:34  |  Apartheid 01/10/07
  68.   FIGHTING ISRAELI PARTHEID... 14:39  |  TrippleJump 01/10/07
  69.   Apartheid # 47 14:45  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  70.   Apardheid # 53 14:48  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  71.   # 66 Del 14:53  |  ChanahS 01/10/07
  72.   apartheid jews came from russia and settled here 14:55  |  teaparty 01/10/07
  73.   69 ChanahS From Sept 29 2000 until May 18 2001 15:11  |  Apartheid 01/10/07
  74.   72 Tea Party: I`m telling you that Jewish terrorists were the 15:19  |  Apartheid 01/10/07
  75.   #21 Del uded 15:48  |  * BEN JABO 01/10/07
  76.   Apartheid 15:53  |  * BEN JABO 01/10/07
  77.   70 ChanahS Shoul Israel adhere to the standards of the Muslim 15:53  |  Apartheid 01/10/07
  78.   #40 Axel 15:55  |  * BEN JABO 01/10/07
  79.   #67 Apartheid/Viper 15:58  |  * BEN JABO 01/10/07
  80.   Del uded 16:01  |  * BEN JABO 01/10/07
  81.