Arabs and Jews demonstrated in Jaffa on Saturday hold signs and call slogans against racism and discrimination. The demonstration was organized following a brutal attack on an Arab worker from the city, carried out on last Sunday. Among the 200 demonstrators: Tel-Aviv Jaffa councilman Yoav Goldring and 3 more members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. A 40-year-old Jaffa resident was attacked early Sunday morning in Tel Aviv by Jewish youths and sustained serious wounds to his head. The attack, which occurred on Herbert Samuel Street on the city’s seaside promenade, around 4:00 A.M. after the victim, Hassan Usruf, 40, had gone out to work. Usruf operates a street-cleaning vehicle for contractor cleaning company.

MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) called on Sunday on the Minister of Education to declare the coming year as the year of the fight against racism. Referring to the racist attack on an Arab worker, Khenin said, “The ongoing crimes related to hate and racism need to be dealt with. I call on the police to give priority to investigating hate crimes and to bring perpetrators to justice. I call on the Minister of Education to declare the coming year as the year of the fight against racism in the education system and make the struggle against racism the main topic of the year. We, the members of the Knesset, also have a great responsibility to promote comprehensive legislation against racism. In this spirit I have submitted a bill dealing with the fight against racism in all its forms.”

Arab and Jewish demonstrators in Jaffa on Saturday, March 2, 2013. The demonstration was organized following a brutal attack on an Arab worker on Sunday. (Photo: Activestills)

The Abraham Fund Initiatives – for the integration and equality of Arab citizens – sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu last week calling for a new government program to deal with violence against Arabs. The letter, drafted by the co-executive directors of the Fund in Israel, Amnon Beeri-Sulitzeanu and Mohammad Darawshe was titled “A plan of action for dealing with violence against Arabs.” It mentions recent suspected incidents of racist-based violence against Arabs, and argues that the phenomenon has increased lately. The letter states, “We turn to you [Netanyahu] in order to initiate an urgent plan to deal with violence and hate crimes against Arabs.” The plan will include a coordinated effort by the police, the judicial branch, and the educational system. It will include clear steps for strict enforcement of laws against racist violence and deterrence, the letter stated. There should also be an educational initiative to eliminate racism among Israeli youth. The letter concluded by calling on the prime minister to publicly condemn racist actions. The letter refers to recent incidents that involved violence against Arabs. On Monday another attack on an Arab-Palestinian woman by a group of religious Jewish women was reported in Jerusalem.

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MK Khenin called to declare the year of the fight against racism