Protect our social fabric
As long as I, and others like me, are regulars at the Doha Stadium in Sakhnin, Israel's social fabric will stay intact, despite the ongoing turbulence. Yes, this fabric occasionally catches fire and begins to unravel, but the bond stays and it serves all segments of Israeli society: in the furniture store in Umm al-Fahm, at the food kiosk in Tayibe, not to mention in the city centers in Tel Aviv and Beersheba. But our social fabric is not ironclad, nor is it fortified with steel; it is made of linen, and it is under an increasing threat of being torn apart.
The Arab communities have every right to register their protest by means of a general strike on Tuesday. Such a protest does not threaten our social fabric. But Arab leaders -- unlike those who constantly incite like MKs Jamal Zahalka and Hanin Zoabi -- must accept the rules of the game and take into account the government's reaction to their protests.
We must accept the following axioms:
1. Israeli Arabs would naturally like a state of "Palestine" for their brethren in Judea and Samaria, even though they themselves have enjoyed the benefits of the Jewish state they love to besmirch. On the other hand, they must realize that law enforcement agencies cannot show leniency when it comes to rock throwers and knife wielders, not to mention those who open fire with live weapons or seek to become suicide bombers.
2. Police officers, including those called up recently to join the soldiers who have been sent to counter the terrorists, will shoot at any individual who threatens the lives of citizens. They are not psychologists, nor are they duty-bound to conduct a rigorous psychological study to determine whether the terrorists truly wants to hurt innocent civilians when things get heated. A terrorist holding a knife or a slingshot deliberately places his or her life in jeopardy. The cross-hairs should be trained on the terrorist until he drops his weapon and puts his hands up. It is as simple as that.
3. Israeli Arab leaders would do well to tell their people, as well as their brethren in Nablus and Jerusalem, that running around in public with sharp knives is likely to turn them into unintentional shahids (martyrs). The chances of escaping death and being taken into custody in an Israeli prison are not high. If a person brandishes his knife in the face of an innocent civilian, no police officer can guarantee a happy ending.
4. Israeli governments have invested heavily in Arab communities, but not enough. It is incumbent upon Israeli leaders to do more and to make the disparities go away. Having said that, the public debate about this neglect must commence only when life returns to its normal course and the protests are over.
טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו