Druze says 2 nightclubs racially discriminated him

Rani Tarif, 27-year-old druze, says two clubs denied him entry because of ethnicity. 'I'm Israel's flesh and blood,' says enraged Tarif, IDF combat soldier

Goel Beno|Published: 01.27.13 , 19:17

A young Druze man from northern Israel says he was racially discriminated against when two night clubs in the town of Kiryat Haim denied him entry.

Rani Tarif, 27, an engineering student and security guard who served as a combat soldier in the IDF's all-Druze Sword Battalion, said he was barred from entering the establishments two nights in a row when he and his friends, who are Jewish, were celebrating a birthday.

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"We went to the Rose nightclub in Kiryat Haim. The selector took our IDs, read out the names and let my friends in, but when she got to mine she realized I'm not Jewish and denied my entry," said Tarif.

"She said it's because I'm not on the list, but my friends weren't either," Tarif continued. "My friends, who were already inside, went out in protest of the degrading treatment and we went home."

Tarif said the incident repeated itself the next day, when he and his friends attempted to go to the Natbag nightclub, where he was again discriminated against while his Jewish friends were let in, and they all left in protest.

'State's own flesh and blood.' Tarif (Photo: Gil Nechushtan)

"This racism is unfathomable. I fought in the Second Lebanon War, I work at a respectable government office as a guard, and it pains me to even talk about this. I wouldn't wish that kind of abuse on anyone."

Tarif added that a friend of his had similar experiences until he changed his name to a Jewish one, and have suffered no maltreatment since.

"My family and my uncle, the spiritual leader of the community, hosted the president, ministers, Knesset members, chiefs of staff and many others," Tarif said. "How is it possible I have fallen victim to such lowly and racist treatment?"

"My family and I, the State's own flesh and blood, we're more Jewish than the Jews," the infuriated student said.

The Natbag's management in Kiryat Haim said in response: "We aren't familiar with the incident, so we cannot comment." A response from the Rose's management could not be immediately obtained.