"If a Jew had been murdered, something would have been done": The five murdered in Yafia were laid to rest | Israel Hayom

The anger and pain in Arab society, including five murdered in yesterday's massacre in Yafia, brought thousands of citizens to the streets for demonstrations today (Friday) in Nazareth, Lod, Yafia, and the villages of the Galilee. Today, the High Follow-Up Committee for Israeli Arabs declared a general strike in Arab society. The funerals of the five murdered were held in Jaffa and Nazareth in the evening.

"We, the citizens of this country who pay taxes, want personal security. Arab blood is not cheap," some of the demonstrators shouted at a demonstration in Yafia, which was attended by crowds from Nazareth and the valleys.

Photos of the murdered in the village of Yafia against the background of the scene, photo: MDA operational documentation

A girl who studied with Rami Marjieh, one of the victims, at school told Israel Hayom: "Rami was an amazing boy. Smiling, he always had a smile on his face. I don't know how we'll go back to school without him." A resident of Yafia said, "To go into a neighborhood and murder 5 people, these cruel people didn't think about their parents or their sisters. What material are they made of? What education did they receive at home? They have no God."

Arab citizens blamed the authorities, the police, the ministries of education and welfare, but also themselves. They believe that everyone is to blame for this deterioration. Marwan Kanana, Muhammad's father, said: "My son Muhammad went to wash the car and didn't come back to us. Mohammed, my youngest son, was a religious believer, his life was work, sports, and a mosque. Mohammed is a very serious guy. Lately, we've been looking for a bride for him, his house is ready. I blame the police and the government, if the police wanted to catch the murderers, they would have already caught them. But apparently she's not interested in that."

The vehicle allegedly used by the shooters in the village of Yafia is on fire // Use under section 27A of the Copyright Law

The scene of the shooting in Kafr Kana, photo: Gil Eliyahu/Ginny

Tawfiq Marjieh, Naim Marjieh's father and uncle of 15-year-old Rami Marjieh, told Israel Hayom: "I was at an HMO and the family called me to go home and they told me that my son had been seriously injured by gunfire in his business. I got home and saw a lot of blood, they told me my son and nephew had been murdered. About what and why? Who did we hurt? We have no enemies. My nephew is a minor, he hasn't seen anything in his life yet. Over 90 people have already been murdered within six months. If a Jew had been murdered, they would have been caught within 24 hours."

A statement issued by the Forum of Arab Local Authorities said in response: "We have launched a strike and demonstrations of rage in Arab communities today under the demands of 'We want to live' and 'We blame.' Rage demonstrations were held in dozens of locations across the country against the incompetence of the police, following the shocking massacre in Yafia yesterday and the terrible increase in the number of murdered in Arab society.

"There have been many calls for the dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, in light of the failure of the police and the entire system to solve murders and warn criminals, collect weapons and have a meager police presence. The leadership of the Arab public calls on the entire Arab public to join the protest rallies of the National Committee of Heads of Arab Local Authorities together with the Mothers for Life Forum, calling for determined government intervention against criminal organizations, and against the call for the involvement of the Shin Bet instead of the police."

Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us