The Mossawa Center, Haifa. Monday 21st of July 2014. The High Follow Up Committee for Arab Citizens has proclaimed today as a day of mourning and a general strike day in protest of the mounting number of casualties in Gaza, which has now reached over 500 including a massacre of 66 people in one day in the Shujaiyeh neighborhood. A demonstration is planned to take place today at 4:30pm in Nazareth against the war as well as in protest of the lack of protection for Bedouin Arab citizens in the south, the 350 political arrests of Arab citizens and the widespread racism and incitement to violence against Arabs and any one who apposes the war, which is taking place all over the country.

Over the weekend in Haifa protestors in two separate peaceful demonstrations against the war on Gaza, were brutalized by both police and Right wing extremists. There is a lot fear in the community that these will not be isolated incidents, but the Arab community in Israel does not feel it can stand idly by while Palestinians in Gaza are being killed by the hundreds, so they will continue to demonstrate against the offensive on Gaza despite fears of violent reprisals from extremists as well as violence and indiscriminate arrests by the police.

The Mossawa Center condemns this racist and violent behavior from the extreme right as well as the lack of balanced action from the Police. The Mossawa Center calls on citizens, politicians and institutions to act to stop this brutal war on Gaza as well as the incitement against Arab citizens. It is leading only to escalation in violence and clashes between citizens not only Jerusalem any more but also in Haifa and Tel Aviv.

For more information on the strike and the wide spread discrimination and incitement to violence see the links below:

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Photos of the strike in Kfar Kana
http://www.panet.co.il/online/articles/71/73/S-831989,71,73.html

‪the strike in NazarethPhotos of

http://www.alarab.net/Article/625429
 

Violence and Incitement Against Arab Citizens and anti war protestors in Haifa

http://www.mossawacenter.org/en/item.asp?aid=1194

Police in Haifa Use Excessive Violence Against Protestors

http://www.mossawacenter.org/en/item.asp?aid=1193

Discriminatory Treatment of Arab Citizens

http://www.mossawacenter.org/en/item.asp?aid=1192

Violence against Anti War protestors in Tel Aviv

http://972mag.com/the-night-it-became-dangerous-to-demonstrate-in-tel-aviv/93524/

State to court: Negev Bedouin must fend for themselves under Gaza rockets

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.605803