Thousands Demonstrate in Nazareth to Celebrate May Day

Thousands participated in the Workers’ Solidarity March in Nazareth on Saturday (May 2) and called for social justice, peace, and equality. Members of the Communist Party of Israel (CPI), the Young Communist League and Hadash activists participated in the March and subsequent rally. Among them: Knesset members from Hadash, chairman of the Joint List, Ayman Odeh; Aida Touma-Sliman, Dov Khenin, Youssef Jabarin, and Abdallah Abu-Ma’arouf; MK Ossama Sa‘adi (Ta‘al – Joint List) and former MKs Mohammed Barakeh, Hannah Sweid, and Afu Agbaria.

Chairman of Hadah and former MK Mohammed Barakeh told journalists: “This year, like in previous years, we are marking May Day, against the backdrop of the drums of war of the new extreme-right government against the Palestinian people and other peoples of the region, or against the workers, the weak, and the poor in Israel. Our struggle is one and for us May Day is a symbol of this struggle.”

A banner in English, at the May Day March in Nazareth on Saturday, May 2

A banner in English, at the May Day March in Nazareth on Saturday, May 2 (Photo: Eli Gozansky)

In a short speech at the end of the rally that took place at the Fountain Square, a member of the Central Committee of the CPI, Dr. Ofer Casif, called the Histadrut to declare a general strike against the economic and social policy of the new right-wing and neo-liberal government. The secretary general of CPI, Mohammed Nafah talk about the political situation in the Middle East and called for “internationalist solidarity with the peoples of the region and the world against the aggressiveness and domination of US imperialism.”

During the march through the main street of Nazareth the many demonstrators carried red flags, effigies that depicted how “the government is milking the people,” and signs in Arabic and Hebrew which read “When the government is against the people the people are against the government!” In addition, the marchers chanted slogans against the capitalist regime, its wars, and the new neo-liberal and chauvinist Israeli government.

On Friday, May 1, several hundred people also marched in Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, and Arrabeh (in the Galilee) to mark International Workers’ Day – May Day. Before the start of Friday’s Tel-Aviv March, Hadash — Joint List MKs Khenin and Touma-Sliman who led that March told reporters that in 2015, marking May Day all over the world, including in Israel and the Middle East, is as relevant as ever.

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