“We need a radical change in Arab society”

MK Aida Toma-Suleiman (Hadash, the joint list) was interviewed today (Thursday) at the Ynet studio and addressed the phenomenon of violence in Arab society. According to her, Knesset members from the sector are not responsible for this (“we have never heard that MKs asked to stand up to criminal organizations”), and she accuses the police – “of setting up 100 stations, in their silence they lend a hand to crime.”

Thomas Suleiman also attacked the government and its leader Benjamin Netanyahu: “He promised years ago that he would eradicate the violence, we are still waiting.” On the departure of RAAM from the list, she said: “The representation of the joint has already decreased, Netanyahu received it as a gift.”

First we want to make sure you’re okay, because we’ve heard you’re been receiving threats recently.
“Let’s say there are insults and belligerent chants here and there. Last Saturday there was an attempt to pounce, to reach out to me, in a demonstration I attended. It was repulsed by my good friends in the party, but true. There is a really murky atmosphere in this election.”

Are you afraid? Secure maybe?
“No, there are the advisers with me who are always around me. I come to events organized by party members. I still do not think we need to get into this threatening atmosphere that they want to put us in. These elections are not around the important issues.”

How do you explain that? There may have been external involvement? That the Prime Minister’s efforts to divide, one might say, not only the joint list but in general in the sector, have succeeded?
“What he did with Netanyahu was to take one of the components of the joint list out. I think that the very exit of RAAM from the joint list has already consciously or unconsciously served the interests of the PM. Even if RAAM passes, the representation of the joint list has decreased. . Netanyahu received it as a gift, without it costing him anything. “

Do the voting percentages in Arab society bother you? Are you working on it?
“In the previous election, more than 60% of the Arab population voted, an unprecedented record. We are working to get the Arab public to vote. We have another ten days. True, the election campaign is a bit drowsy, if we look at the area. It is because of the very difficult atmosphere of crisis. “We are building on 11-10 seats and I very much hope we get there.”

There are demonstrations in the Arab sector, rising violence, a lot of anger towards the government. Isn’t this data that is supposed to get people to vote?
“True, this is what it takes when you really manage to direct your anger to the right places. I think the anger that exists in Arab society is very justified, and also the lack of trust that governments will indeed address the problems that cause it. There is distrust in the system.”

You may not be believed, that you did not do enough to eradicate crime?
“What are we supposed to do to eradicate the crime phenomenon? I have never heard Knesset members asked to stand up to criminal organizations. The police do not, they do not hit them. We demand it, lead demonstrations, exert parliamentary pressure, talk to ministers.”

Maybe Mansour Abbas is right that he says’ from the outside, in the opposition it does not work. I’m closing a deal with Bibi, getting budgets, cops and stations. Is this the method?
“No, that’s not the method, obviously not. What did Mansour Abbas actually get? For seven months the government failed to go even one step further on this issue, without a political will and understanding that the criminal organizations would not shrink and enter only the Arab villages, without realizing we would not stay where we are. “They are exposed to these organizations and the police are watching from the sidelines. They can build 100 stations, but without a police force that does not want to work – it is impossible.”

We know from many sources in the police that they have no ability to enter the sector. We hear about force attacks, what do you expect from them?
“This is the sole responsibility of the Israel Police. No one attacked the police but the police attacked demonstrators. The police would not dare to attack in this way in other demonstrations. Instead of being strong on demonstrators who went out to defend their lives – be strong on criminal organizations. This is what happens to us. “In society, it bleeds and the police stand by. In its silence, it allows criminal organizations to take over our society, and perhaps that is actually the goal? To have agents in control of the Arab population?”

Do you think that the Arab leadership and population are willing to cooperate with the Israeli police in all that is necessary?
“I have never heard the Israeli police ask for cooperation to beat criminal organizations. Let them do their job, period. Let them be professionals, let them come in and collect the illegal weapons scattered. In 2015, when the leaders of the joint list parties sat with Benjamin Netanyahu, it was accepted. “The first request to collect the illegal weapon. Earlier he promised he was going to hit crime, we are still waiting for him to do so.”

The police responded to the remarks by saying: “We are sorry for the continued allegations and conspiracies that deny any basis in relation to the police that work day and night against crime and violence in the communities of Arab society in Israel. Violence in Arab society is an improper social scourge and we work to eradicate and fight it every day. “Deeply coming from Arab society in Israel – in education, culture, cooperation with the police, denouncing invalid norms and active actions of the leadership – will lead to the desired change.”

Ynet has learned that yesterday in assessing the situation of the Ministry of Health, they discussed the spread of the corona virus in mass funerals of murdered people, and even in anti-violence demonstrations that take place recently, mainly on weekends. The summary of the meeting stated that “the phenomenon of violence increases the risk of illness,” and the recommendation in this matter is “information and coordination with the authorities.”

“I do not know how great the concern is,” said Prof. Ash, “if you look back, I do not think an outbreak of morbidity can be attributed to these events. Theoretically it could happen, but I guess the demonstrations cannot be prevented – so it does not matter. “He presented it with concern, but in my opinion it is not a concern. Personally, I believe that it will not cause a dramatic change in morbidity. I call on everyone to solve the problem of violence in Arab society, it is more important than worrying about a morbidity that it may cause.”

Meanwhile, the stabilization of the morbidity trend in Arab society in recent days should be noted: the infection rate was 0.93, and last Tuesday, for example, the rate of positive tests in this population was 10.6%, having previously also crossed 15%. In the immunization rate, however, there are no major changes. Although it improved slightly, the numbers remained low and only about 40% were vaccinated with at least one dose.

Do you understand more what happened there?
“No, we still do not know anything. Who did it? I do not know. Saw three people fleeing the place, but who are they? I do not know. They were masked.”

Was Muhammad in conflict with anyone? Got any threats?
“No, no. Not in life.”

The father noted that he was unaware of the conflicts in the family, which according to various claims led to the revenge shooting at Muhammad.

Who is responsible for violence in the Arab sector? The country? the police? The gangs?
“The police, and people who recruit people here. They are given money, everything is done for them, they do not work and what do they care. It seems to me that they do not have a father, that he dumped them. I do not think anyone who has parents does such things.”

That is, people who have nothing to lose enlist in criminal organizations for money?
“That’s right, and the station is only tens of meters away from our house. It does not seem to me that these people are paying the police.”