HAMC said that all Arab cities and towns, including Umm el-Fahm, Sakhnin, Arrabeh, Taybeh, as well as Arab neighborhoods in mixed cities such as Haifa and Jaffa, closed their businesses, local authorities said.
It added that in addition to Arab public figures and representatives of the families of those killed, representatives of various embassies attended the rallies. Israeli police said it has gathered near the demonstrations and outside the villages in order to prevent rioting, but expect the demonstrations to be peaceful.
The events of October 2000 have become a contentious issue for Arabs inside Israel, many of whom say Israel has failed to properly investigate the circumstances of the riot and take action against the police officers who killed the youths.
The Arabs have expressed anger over the issue by holding demonstrations and strikes during the month of October in the years since the incident.
HAMC said in a press statement that there was 90 percent participation in Friday’s strike. “It should be taken into account that the strike is not just about the October incident. The Arab public is very aware of the institutional trends in all aspects of life, be it (Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor) Lieberman, the fascist and racist legislation, discrimination and the demolition of houses.”
Ramez Jaraiseh, mayor of Nazareth and the acting head of the HAMC, described the day as one in which “the Arab population are still fighting the government of Israel for justice.”
The sector is feeling an increasing sense of discrimination, Jaraiseh said, particularly from elements within the government.
Approximately 45 percent of the general Arab population lives in poverty — a figure even higher among the sector’s children, at 57 percent.
He added that only some 20 percent of Arab women are employed. While the figure for Israeli Arab men is higher — 60 percent — most of those jobs are in physical labor and many are laid of between the ages of 40 and 45.
Nearly 8 percent of Arab youths drop out of high school — a figure nearly three times the national average.
Public transportation is either completely lacking or insufficient about 80 percent of Arab towns and villages, and overcrowded housing in these communities is 70 percent higher than in Jewish communities.
Jaraiseh added that the committee and the parents of those killed plans to ask Israeli Attorney-General to reverse the decision of previous attorney general Mazuz, which declared that there is not enough evidence to investigate the police officers involved in the killing.
Hassan Asleh, from Arrabeh, whose son Aseel was killed in the clashes said, “the time has come for us to put our hands on the murderers. I can’t believe in the law enforcement authorities in the country, not in Israeli justice or law. We must continue operating on the international channel. They are the ones who will take this investigation and will teach the State of Israel how to reveal the truth.”
Hassan remembers exactly how his son was killed. “I live that moment every minute of every hour for the last ten years. We have become accustomed to the pain and longing. Aseel would have been a 27-year-old man today. I see his friends and think where Aseel could have been today, what he would be doing,” said the father.
For his part, the Arab Member of Israeli Member of Knesset Talab El-Sana said that the “Arab public renews its commitment to the victims of October. It will not forgive or forget and will pursue the murderers and those who sent them until they pay a price.”
