Israel Matzav

Naqba day clashes... at Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv University defied the law on Monday and allowed a Naqba Day demonstration to go ahead. Hopefully, someone will bring an enforcement action to cut off their funding in response. But in the meantime, the Naqba day demonstration brought a strong reaction from Right wing demonstrators.

Some 200 right wing protestors faced off with 400 leftist protestors who sought to hold a Palestinian 'Nakba Day' ceremony – commemorating the "disaster" of the foundation of the State of Israel – at Tel Aviv University, Monday.

Three protestors were arrested after the confrontations. The right wing protestors called out at the organizer of the event, who was arrested: "Traitor!"

Protestors from the right waved Israeli flags and signs that read: "When I came to Israel there was no Palestinian nation," and "I'm proud to be Israeli," they also sang Israeli songs. They also prevented the ceremony's organizers from speaking and booed them repeatedly.

During the ceremony the leftist activists read out what they said was "an alternative Yizkor prayer." Six Arab students presented their personal stories and those present stood for a moment of silence.

In addition the right wing protestors shouted: "Death to terrorists," and "terrorists out." One of them burnt a cardboard drawing of a Palestinian flag. Another shouted out: "Murderers, where were you when a little girl was killed." The left wing protestors responded with: "You're the murderers."

Earlier on Monday a Knesset Education Committee turned into a loud confrontation when the Committee Chairman Alex Miller (Yisrael Beiteinu) called on the university to cancel the events. "Today they're reading out Yizkor for the Nakba fallen tomorrow they'll hold a memorial day for Nazi soldiers, he said."

The law says that if you take money from the government and you observe Naqba Day, you lose your government funding. We're waiting.

Labels: Naqba day, Tel Aviv University

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:25 PM