Nachal Eeron Fears Israeli-Arab Uprising as Attacks Increase
Published: 10/07/07, 5:16 PM Nachal Eeron Fears Israeli-Arab Uprising as Attacks Increase by Ezra HaLevi(IsraelNN.com) The Nachal Eeron, or Wadi Ara, region of the Galilee is witnessing events that may signal an Arab uprising similar to that of October 2000, in which Israeli-Arabs joined the Oslo War.
Israeli motorists were repeatedly targeted over the weekend by Israeli-Arab rock-throwers along Highway 65, which runs through Wadi Ara. Police and local residents say the incidents have become more and more common in recent months.
Three Arabs were arrested Friday at the Arara Junction after throwing rocks at motorists. They later told investigators that they intended to hit Israeli soldiers. Two motorists were wounded lightly and two cars sustained damage from the rocks.
This is the seventh recent reported attack at the Arara Junction, according to police. The spate of attacks is not limited to Highway 65, however. On Highway 574, near the Kalaniyot Junction and Baka al-Gharbiya, at least 12 vehicles were targeted by rock-throwers in recent months – many driven by female motorists.
Police told Maariv that the attacks occur in waves, and have only been contained thanks to a large increase in police presence along the major highway. They admitted, however, that such a deployment is not sustainable in the long term.
Wadi Ara – named Nahal Eeron in Hebrew but still widely referred to by the Arabic name – connects the Caesarea area with Megiddo. It is considered a strategically vital transportation route connecting central Israel with its north. In October, 2000, simultaneous to the launching of the Oslo War by PA Arabs, Israeli-Arabs in Wadi Ara rioted, blocked roads, attacked Jewish passersby and clashed with police.
Wadi Ara is also home to the largest rural concentration of Arabs in Israel and contains the city of Umm el-Fahm, known for its radical leadership. The leader of the northern branch of the Israeli-Arab Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ra’ad Salah, was recently indicted for incitement after calling for an “Israeli-Arab Intifada.”
Strategic Threats Minister Avigdor Lieberman has suggested that Wadi Ara be handed over to the PA in a future permanent status deal.
A couple of thoughts come to mind when viewing this article, first is the need to come down hard on this terrorist activity. Sentence the people to prison for long terms and do not do what Israel in the past has done and tend to down play rock attacks.
Second is the last sentence of the article Lieberman has been put labeled as a "right wing fanatic" but he speaks of giving up our land to the terrorist for a future terrorist state in Judea and Samaria.
So if Lieberman is so hardcore right wing and he talks of giving up land, what does that make those of us that are willing to say that one more centimeter of Jewish land to the terrorist. Jews must never negotiate with Arabs since we have lost every time we have attempted to do so.
