Council to remove Arafat St. sign following Netanyahu's request
After street in Arab region was discovered to have been named after the controversial Palestinian leader, Prime Minister Netanyahu pushed to have them changed, with the Arab council eventually acquiescing; meanwhile, Arab MKs defend Israeli Arabs' wish to celebrate Arafat's legacy.
The northern Arab regional council of Jatt announced on Sunday that it plans on removing a street sign for Yasser Arafat Street, named after the deceased Palestinian terrorist and political leader, as per the request of Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas). In addition, the street signs commemorating 1930’s-era mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseini and Syrian preacher Izz ad-Din al-Qassam. The decision also followed a statement made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who promised to have the signs removed earlier in the day.
On the backdrop of these events, a stun grenade was thrown at a house belonging to former head of Jatt's street naming committee. There were no casulaties. Police forces have launched an investigation.
Netanyahu referred to the naming issue during a live Facebook feed. "On Friday, I spoke with Minister Deri, after hearing there was a street in Jatt named after Yasser Arafat. I thought this was unacceptable. It's inconceivable to have a street named after Israel' enemies inside Israel, and so I asked Minister Deri to take care of this during today's government meeting," said Netanyahu. "He did it. I am being informed that the regional council will remove the sign.
"I want Israeli Arabs to be part of the Israel's success story and loyal citizens of the State of Israel," continued Netanyahu. "All doors are open to them, but this door cannot include naming streets after the enemies of Israel or the murderers of Israelis."
Netanyahu told the cabinet earlier Sunday that “no street in the State of Israel will be named after murderers of Israelis and Jews,” adding that he has undertaken steps together with Deri to remove street signs celebrating Arafat and other controversial Arab and Palestinian figures.
Arab leaders were quick to respond. MK Yousef Jabareen (Joint List) hailed Arafat as “the national leader of the Palestinian people” and described him as being intimately tied to the Palestinian narrative.
“The Arab minority in Israel has the right to memorialize his memory in its public space, including naming streets after him.
“Arafat led the Palestinian people to a historic reconciliation with Israel under the leadership of Yitzhak Rabin and supported the two-state solution in the 1967 borders.
“Netanyahu’s opposition to naming a street after him in an Arab settlement is a reflection of (Netanyahu’s—ed) rejection of the national identity of the Arab minority and of his opposition to any sort of historic reconciliation with the Palestinian people.
“Netanyahu is leading the two peoples to disaster and is ensuring the continuation of the circle of violence,” Jabareen concluded.
Jatt Regional Council also issued a statement, saying that the sign and street name were selected in 2006, but that this decision was never approved by the Interior Ministry. For this reason, they have decided to adhere to Deri's request and take the sign down on Monday. "All this isn't to say that we won't submit the name of Yasser Arafat, may he rest in peace, to the Interior Ministry, among the names we want to use," said Jatt Regional Council Head Mohammed Watad. "If we run into problems, we may very well consider filing an appeal on the matter."
Watad also pointed out that Arafat, together with then-Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.
Arafat is widely remembered in Israel as leading militants who targeted civilians. Many Palestinians, on the other hand, view him as a national icon of their movement for independence.
Republished with permission from the Tazpit News Agency.
