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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 12 - 18 October 2000 Issue No. 503 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 12 - 18 October 2000 Issue No. 503
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Elections Palestine International Economy Opinion Culture Books Interview Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters An appeal for protection
Mr Kofi A Annan,
Secretary General
United Nations
Honorable Mr Kofi Annan,
Re: Urgent appeal for the protection of the Palestinian national minority in Israel
I write to you with an urgent appeal, as an elected representative of the Palestinian national minority in Israel, to meet with the leadership of the Palestinian national minority and call for immediate United Nations intervention on our behalf and the protection of our rights as stipulated in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992).
Azmi BisharaFor the past eleven days, since the commencement of what has come to be known as the "Al-Aqsa Intifada," we have been living in a grave state of danger.
The official excuse for the current violent repression of the Palestinian national minority in Israel is our public protest brought on by the visit of MK Ariel Sharon to Haram al-Sharif in the old city of Jerusalem, and its bloody aftermath.
Every national minority must have the fundamental right to civil protest.
29 September - 6 October: During civil protests on the part of Arab citizens inside Israel in response to ongoing Israeli brutality against Palestinians, the Israeli police killed 12 Arab citizens with live ammunition and rubber coated metal bullets, and injured dozens.
(photo:AFP, AP, Reuters)
7 October: In response to news of the kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers by Hizbullah, Israeli Jewish civilians began rioting and attacking Arab citizens, most of them labourers at their places of work. Dozens of injured Arab citizens, some critically, have been hospitalised. Arab-owned businesses have been burned. In Tiberias, rioters desecrated an ancient mosque. Despite the fact that rioting by Jews included the use of knives and Molotov cocktails, the police demonstrated a negligent inability to defend Arab citizens and their property.
8 October: Some 300 Jewish rioters attacked the home of MK Azmi Bishara in Nazareth Ilit. The rioters, who stoned the house, were equipped with torches and declared their intention to burn the house down.
A few hours ago: Jewish rioters from Nazareth Ilit began attacking the eastern neighbourhood of Nazareth, with live ammunition. The police, who have directed their force at the Arab residents under attack instead of at their Jewish attackers, have killed at least one civilian thus far, and injured countless others.
Since the Israeli authorities are unable to offer us protection, but rather are the perpetrators of the violence directed against us, I see no choice but to ask you to meet with us and call upon the international community to intervene on our behalf.
Sincerely,
MK Azmi Bishara
National Democratic Assembly
9 October 2000
Related stories:
Focus on Palestine
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