Joint List cancels Jewish-Arab family picnic following threats

According to Zo Khadarek, Joint List announcement said, "This is due to threats we received that the far-right intends to arrive at the site and prevent the event with violence." The event was supposed to take place starting at 11:00 AM in the Moon Grove, near the Jerusalem Theater. "We made the decision with a heavy heart, out of genuine concern for the safety of the participants, including children and babies. We cannot take risks when it comes to the safety of innocent people," they emphasized.

The picnic was intended to promote a basic social demand: free education from birth to age three, for the benefit of all citizens, Jews and Arabs alike. "The fact that a family event aimed at promoting equality and social justice becomes a target for threats and intimidation is worrying evidence of political persecution and incitement against Jewish-Arab partnership," the organizers said, adding: "It is not possible in a democratic country that Jewish and Arab families should be forced to cancel a family gathering because of threats from extremists. This is not only a violation of our event, but an attempt to terrorize everyone who believes in equality and partnership. We cannot allow threats to stop our struggle for equality, Jewish-Arab partnership and social justice." "Our answer to fascism, incitement and political persecution will come this coming Tuesday at the ballot box," they promised.

It should be noted that last Thursday, fascists affiliated with the racist Otzma Yehudit party, including Mordechai David and Victor Shriki, stormed the Left Bank Club in Tel Aviv, which also serves as a branch of Hadash and the Israeli Communist Party (Maki), during the premiere of a film by the "Refuse" network - "We Don't Refuse to Respond," and physically clashed with the activists. About ten right-wing activists attacked activists and youth who participated in the event, and after being removed from the building, they returned to it and chanted incitement against those present. The Joint List's election headquarters also operates in the building, and according to testimonies, the right-wing activists tried to reach the floor where the headquarters operates. The police arrived after the activists were removed from the scene.

(Photo: Zo Khadarek)