Video: Riots in Israeli Arab City of Um al-Fahm

Published March 25, 2009 @ 05:04AM PT

Part of the virulent clerical fascist strain of Israeli politics has a long fascination with Um al-Fahm. This is one of the most important Arab cities, with a diverse and vibrant political culture, and strong connections to the West Bank.

Back in the 1980s, when Meir Kahana was still alive and fomenting hate, he organized a march to this city on a public mission to 'bring back women who married Muslims but now need rescuing.' This was part of his obsession with the idea of Jewish women having sex (heaven forfend) with Arabs. Um al-Fahm was ruled at the time by the left wing Hadash party, and they welcomed the arrival of hundreds of Jews to join them in blocking Kahane from entering the city. Then as now, the march of Jewish racists carrying Israeli flags into an all-Arab city was seen as a provocation.

This time around, Baruch Marzel leads the Kahanist forces, including a newly elected Shas Member of Knesset. The leaders of Um al-Fahm are no longer as left wing, and there are fewer Jews eager to answer the call for anti-racist solidarity, and so the residents were on their own in confronting the right wing incursion.

As a supporter of democracy, part of me wants to see people of any stripe be able to march anywhere they please. But Israel is not a perfect democracy. Israeli Arabs have seen the police fire live ammunition into their unarmed demonstrations too many times to believe that. The Jerusalem police just recently broke up gatherings in the city to celebrate Palestinian culture. Israel is not free for Palestinians.

Watch this BBC news clip covering the right wing march into Um al-Fahm:

And one more thing. I've been to Um al-Fahm many times. I've always felt welcome and safe there. Not just as part of a group, or with a host; many Jews shop there or stop by to visit friends.

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Charles is a nonprofit professional with 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in Israel, Palestine and the U.S. For the past few years, he's been specializing in online organizing.