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Hadash Chairman Mohammad Barakeh
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| By israelinsider staff April 29, 2007 |
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Over 3,000 people gathered in Nazareth Saturday for a rally in support of former Knesset Member Azmi Bishara, who is being investigated for suspected collaboration with the enemy during last summer's Second Lebanon War.
The protestors complained about what they called "the cruel campaign against Bishara and the Arab population in Israel," Ynetnews reported.
The rally was organized by representatives from all Arab political parties and speakers included the Hadash chairman MK Mohammad Barakeh, Islamic Movement leader Sheikh Raed Salah, MK Talab El-Sana, and Higher Arab Monitoring Committee Chairman Shawki Khatib.
Ayman Auda, Secretary-General of Hadash said to the protestors, "What is Bishara accused of? Collaborating with the enemy? Hizbullah isn't our enemy, the Israeli occupation is the enemy. Olmert, Diskin and Lieberman the immigrant will not succeed in removing us from our land."
Balad Faction Chairman Jamal Zahalka said to Ynetnews before the rally, "The attack is not only against Bishara, but against all Palestinians in Israel.
"Bishara and Balad will not be the only ones hurt by this attack against the Arab public; we are sure this attack will hurt other Arab leaders and parties to the point that they are prevented from running in elections."
Balad Secretary-General Awad Abdel Fattah said that, following the allegations against Bishara, "People are saying that we cooperate with the enemy, and soon they'll say we're directing tanks towards Tel Aviv. We are being portrayed as a danger."
Sheikh Salah said that Israeli Arabs would never leave Israel. "If the options before us are either to be kicked out or to die on this land -- we will take the second option. We may be killed and jailed and we will not leave this land. At the end of the day, we will win."
Sheikh Salah did not elaborate on what he meant when he said "we will win."
According to MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al), being part of the Palestinian people was a great honor for Israeli Arabs. He said, "Our presence is proof that the Israeli establishment won't succeed in dividing Arab organizations and parties, and Arab public leadership," he said. |
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