On Thursday Nov. 9, 2006, approximately 1,500 demonstrated against the recent demolition of Arab homes in the unrecognized villages of the Negev. Members of the Knesset (Israeli parlament) Hanna Swaid and Dr. Dov Khenin (Hadash, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality - Communist Party of Israel), Adv. Ayman Odeh, Secretary of Hadash, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality; Mr. Shawqi Khatib, head of the Follow-Up Committee, and Mr. Hussein Al-Rafay'a, RCUV Chairperson and many other leaders participated in the demonstration.
The demonstrators marched from the Beer-Sheva Market to the offices of the governmentally appointed Abo Basma Regional Council, then to the square in front of the Interior Ministry. The speakers considered home demolition a crime aims at evacuating the Negev from its Arab residents. They called for immediate resignation of Amram Qal'aji, head of Abo Basma Regional Council and Dodo Cohen, District Head, who signed the demolition orders and many others who are involved in home demolition. They also considered Abo Basma a tool in the hands of the government.
The RCUV considers the success of this demonstration a sign of the Negev Arabs' awareness. It is also a message to the people responsible for the demolition crimes that their acts will destroy coexistence in this region.
The demonstrators condemned Beit Hanoon massacre. Some speakers said that the government that kills innocent civilians in Gaza and destroys homes there demolishes homes in the unrecognized villages of the Negev under the pretext of law.
Mr. Hussein Al-Rafay'a, RCUV Chairperson, commented, "We would like to pay condolence to our people in Beit Hanoon and the West Bank and Gaza. We live under the threat of home demolition. The Israeli government violates our rights by demolishing our homes. We demonstrate against the home demolition policy and non-recognition of our villages. We demonstrate to put pressures on decision-makers to find salutations for our problems. The government is responsible for what is going on in the Negev. Finally, I would like to thank the Arab leadership and the democratic Jews who support us in our struggle."
