'We're against the revolution'
Photo: Mohamed Shinawi
Arab-Israelis: 'We'll give our lives for Morsi'
Thousands of Arab-Israelis hold protest in support of ousted Egyptian president Morsi, placing blame on army, US for orchestrating move they claim opposes will of Egyptian people
More than 2,000 people affiliated with the Israeli
branch of the Islamic Movement held a pro-Morsi demonstration
in the Arab town of Kafr Kanna on Saturday.
The protesters were led by the movement's leader Raed Salah. They held pictures of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and blocked the town's main road.
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"Morsi is head of state, we oppose the army, we oppose the revolution," Arab-Israelis chanted in a rare show of support for Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. Protesters also shouted that they would be willing to give their life for Morsi.
Heads of Islamic Movement (Photo: Mohamed Shinawi)
The focus of the protest's anger was directed against Egypt's Defense Minister and Chief of Staff General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who decided to depose Morsi nine days ago in the wake of massive public protests.
Video: Mohammed Shinawi (צילום: מוחמד שינאווי )
"Sisi betrayed his people and America is a terrorist state," protesters yelled and claimed that "Sisi is not the head of state, the elected president is Morsi."
Morsi 'legally elected president' (Photo: Mohamed Shinawi)
The protest was organized by the Islamic Movement's northern branch. The movement's leader, Sheikh Raed Salah, and his deputy Sheikh Kamal Khatib took an active role in the protest.
Khatib told Ynet: "We're here to tell the entire world and the Egyptian people that Morsi is the legally elected president and he must be reinstated so that the people's will will be respected."
According to Khatib "we're against the revolution and we'll continue to support Morsi until he returns to his position. If they want to get rid of Morsi they could vote him out in three years."
Protesters blocked streets (Photo: Mohamed Shinawi)
Protesters also placed the blame on the US.
Oved Hussien, who came to the protest from Nazareth, said that "every part of the 'revolution' was planned by the United States, which is truly responsible for Morsi's fall."
According to him, "It makes little to no sense to topple the government after so little time. The way it happened solves no problems. If Morsi erred then he needs to fix it, but he shouldn't be thrown out and people should not be killed."
There were also local Arab residents who were opposed to the protest. A resident Kafr Kanna said: "I have no idea what Egypt has to do with us. In my opinion this was redundant and has no place here.
"If the Arab sector (in Israel) wants to dissent it should do so against land expropriation and the destruction of houses not against Morsi's ouster. The Egyptian people and not us should pay the price of what is happening in Egypt.
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