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Wave of protests within the Arab community against the increase of violence. Participants denounce a lack of political will to deal with this crime. They were called to strike, Thursday, October 3.
With our correspondent in Jerusalem , Guilhem Delteil
Members of the new Knesset, the Israeli parliament , made their return Thursday, just over two weeks after the last parliamentary elections.
At the inaugural session, the Israeli president called for the establishment of a national unity government, while the negotiations for the formation of a government stagnate.
The Arab deputies, they, were not present for this return parliamentary. A boycott to protest a wave of violence in the Arab community.
A violence well present
In Lod, a mixed city near Tel Aviv, the Arab population represents about a quarter of the inhabitants of the municipality. Here, the call to strike is little followed, but the problem is real, judge Hani Zeitoun, owner of a cafe near the bus station.
" There is more violence in the Arab community than in the Jewish community," he denounces. Every day, there are dead, wounded. Every day, something happens . "
Every day and even " every hour, " says Ahmad Mounasser, a 22-year-old man. Last year, nearly 60 percent of those killed by gunfire were Arab, according to police figures. A predominantly intra-community violence.
A more than tense situation for Israeli Arabs
For Rachid Chaq, taxi driver, " when people are tense, for a parking space, a nothing can trigger an armed altercation ." He accuses the authorities of ignoring the phenomenon.
" The reason for all the problems here is Benyamin Netanyahu and the whole government. And the police too. Because it does not seize the weapons within the Arab community , "said this taxi driver.
For the police, more than 3,500 weapons, ammunition and grenades were seized during the year. It also points out that it has opened eight more police stations in Arab localities and is working with community representatives to stem the violence.