Israeli High Court allows extremist right wingers to protest in Um Al-Fahem Arab city

Friday September 05, 2008 06:50 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The Israeli High Court of Justice ruled on Thursday in favor for allowing extremist Israeli right wingers (from the Kahana terrorist organization) to protest in Um Al-Fahem Palestinian Arab city. The Israeli police proposed that the protest should be held on the southern entrance of the city as holding it in its center could lead to clashes but the court rejected the proposal.

On Wednesday, right wing extremists filed an appeal to the high court to allow them to protest in the center of Um Al-Fahem and the prosecution said that it does not intend to bar them from protesting as “the protest falls under the freedom of expression”.

The prosecution said that it suggested that the protest should be held on the southern entrance of the city in order to ensure that the protestors receive “sufficient police protection ”.

The prosecution filed the appeal to the high court and said that such a protest could lead to serious clashes with the Arab resident, and that these clashes will most likely cause harm to the residents and to property.

Also, the prosecution told the High Court that it objects to the request of Itamar Gafeer, one of the extremist right wingers, to allow him and other extremists to protest  in the center of Um Al-Fahem. The prosecution suggested holding the protest in a different location.

The extremists were offered to hold the protest on the southern entrance of the city and along  its border line in order to avoid clashes and casualties.

Ben Gafeer is believed to having a role  in a series of attempts to attack the house of the family of the Palestinian Arab man who was killed after he attacked a religious school in Jerusalem. He and other right wingers attempted to demolish the house and clashes ensued in the area; several residents and policemen were wounded.

Palestinian Arab member of Israeli parliament (Knesset in Hebrew), Mohammad Baraka, said that the court’s decision to allow the extremists to protest in Um Al-Fahem crosses all red lines and is considered “playing with fire”.

Baraka stated that those extremists are members of the outlawed Kaha terrorist movement.  “This group should be outlawed, but instead it is ongoing with its criminal actions, and is receiving official protection from the authorities”, Baraka added.

Palestinian Arab member of Israeli parliamnet, Jamal Zahalka, also slammed the court’s decision and said that “racism is illegal in all democratic countries, but Israel is bragging that it is a haven of democracy in the Middle East while its courts are protecting racism and racists”.

Zahalka added that this group should not be underestimated and should be countered. He further stated that the residents have the moral responsibility to bar this group from entering Um Al-Fahem.