The Israeli Communist Forum condemns the systematic and cruel demolition of houses in the Bedouin village of Al-Arakib. These homes were brutally destroyed again and again in recent months, after being rebuilt by its residents. The demolitions leave hundreds of villagers homeless, including many children, denying them the most elementary living conditions.
This brutal destruction of houses is part of al campaign waged against the Arab population in the Negev and its so-called "unrecognized villages", itself part of an overall offensive against the Arab population in Israel, in all its parts – in the Negev, the Galilee, the Triangle and the mixed cities. Recently we witnessed house demolitions at Umm al Fahem and other localities in the Wadi Ara region, as well as increased harassment of the Arab populations in Jaffa and in Ramle-Lod area.
Increasingly, we hear calls for "transferring" parts of the Arab population in Israel, particularly in the Triangle, so as to overcome the so-called "demographic threat".
At the same time, there is an ongoing campaign aimed at excluding from the political arena the Arab population's representatives. There is an increasing incitement against Arab MKs, one of whose new highlights is the campaign against MK Hanin Zuabi (Balad) and the Knesset's decision to revoke some of her parliamentary privileges. We condemn this campaign and demand that all such Knesset resolutions be overturned.
We call for an end to the politically-motivated judicial process conducted against the Hadash Chair MK Muhammad Barake, and to all other judicial acts against the Arab elected representatives.
We call for unity of action, both among the Arab population and among the Jewish supporters of democracy, peace and equality, so as to effectively confront these and other manifestations of fascism and racism schemes.