The October 2000 events is a term used to describe several days of protests in northern Israel that soon escalated into clashes between Arab citizens of Israel and Israel Police.
Thirteen people - 12 Arab citizens of Israel and one Palestinian from Gaza - were shot and killed by the Israeli police. [1] The disturbances began after Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip began what is now known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada.
Israeli media outlets refer to the events as "The October 2000 Riots" or "October 2000 Events" (אירועי אוקטובר 2000). [2] Arab citizens of Israel sometimes refer to it as "The October Ignition" (هبة أكتوبر) [3].
The Or Commission was established to investigate the root causes for the events of October 2000, and specifically, the police response to these events.
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Main article: al-Aqsa Intifada |
In response to Israel Police Northern District Commander Alik Ron's 12 September request to investigate Hadash MK Mohammad Barakeh for inciting violence against police, the Supreme Follow-up Committee of Israeli Arabs held a meeting the next day in Kafar Manda which ended with United Arab List's MK Abdulmalik Dehamshe declaring “We will beat or forcefully attack any policeman and we will break his hands if he comes to demolish an Arab house… we are on the verge of an Intifada among Israel’s Arabs following Alik Ron’s incitement.”[4]
A total strike was held on 14 September in Nazareth following a murder with the stated aim of protesting the "police’s incompetence in handling violence and crime."[4]
On 29 September, Israeli security forces shot and killed at least five people and wounded 200 others, during violent clashes when were stones thrown over the Western Wall at Jews and tourists below after Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque [5]. About 70 policemen were also reportedly injured in the clashes. [6] + A total strike was held on 14 September in Nazareth following a murder with the stated aim of protesting the "police’s incompetence in handling violence and crime."[4]
The dominant view is that longstanding tensions had erupted, catalyzed by Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound, the day previous [7]. Conversely, some sources contend that the Intifada was planned by the Palestinian Authority or other Palestinian groups [8].
On 30 September, the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee - an umbrella group representing Arab citizens of Israel - called for the Arab community to mount a general strike to protest the killings resulting from the clashes in Jerusalem of the previous day. Demonstrations followed, becoming more widespread after television viewers watched the death of 12-year-old Muhammad al-Dura, shot at Netzarim Junction on 30 September in the Gaza Strip.[9][10]
Arab-Israeli protests in solidarity with the Palestinians began to show signs of violence following the proclamation of a general strike by the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee to protest the deaths of rioters in Jerusalem the previous day.[2] Although there were clashes throughout northern Israel, the most intense violence occurred in Umm al-Fahm where two were killed, and in Jat, in which one person was killed.
In Jat, Rami Khatem Gharra was shot in the eye by Border Policeman Rashed Murshid, and later died of his injuries. Murshid was firing rubber bullets at 15 metres towards the upper body, in contravention to that weapon's non-lethal operation directive to be used at longer range towards the lower body. Many others were wounded.[11]
The deadliest day of the events with six people killed in various incidents.
Asil Asala, 17, was killed after being shot at close range by Israeli police with live ammunition in Arrabeh. His father reported that he was sitting under an olive tree watching the demonstrations when police chased, surrounded and shot him. [12] Alaa Nassar, 18, was also shot in the chest in Arrabeh, and died the same day. [3]
Misleh Hussein Abu Jarad from Gaza was killed and at least seven others were injured in Umm al-Fahm, after Commander of the Northern District, Alik Ron, gave orders to snipers to open fire on stone-throwers. [13]
Walid Abdul-Menem Abu Saleh, 21, and Emad Farraj Ghanaym, 25, were killed in an industrial area in the Sakhnin area/Misgav Regional Council, when police fired live ammunition to disperse ston-throwers. [14] Walid was shot in the head and Emad in the chest [4].
Iyad Lawabni, 26, was shot in the chest in Nazareth and died the same day [5].
Traffic was blocked on Route 65, a main artery connecting northern and central Israel. [citation needed]
Ramez Bushnak, 24, from Kafar Manda, was shot in the head and died the same day. Mohammed Khameisi, from Kafar Kanna was shot in the leg and died the following day [6].
Following the meeting between Barak and the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee, a general calm reigned with only minimal violence, including on 6 October, on which a "Palestinian day of rage" had been announced. [citation needed]
Although a mostly calm day, clashes broke out following the abduction of three Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah fighters, including for the first time clashes between Arab and Jewish civilians. [citation needed]
About 1,000 Jewish civilians from Upper Nazareth head down the hill to Nazareth where they attacked Arab civilians [7]. Police use tear gas, and live ammunition against Arab civilians.
Wissam Yazbak, 24, and Omar Mohammad Akkawi, 52, were killed, and at least five others were wounded, after Commander of the Valleys, Moshe Waldman, ordered Israeli police to use live ammunition at the Canyon Junction in Nazareth. [15] Wissam, 25, sustained a fatal head wound [16]. [8]
An Israeli-Jewish man, Bachor Jann from Rishon Letzion, was also killed after being hit by a stone thought to have been thrown by those taking part in the protests, while driving on the Haifa-Tel Aviv freeway. [9] [10]
Events focused around Jewish civilian disorder, though Arab civilians had not yet ceased their actions. Attempts at achieving calm by and large did not succeed. [citation needed]
Calm finally held, with a sharp reduction in violent clashes. [citation needed]
The Arab Human Rights Association, and other Arab-Israeli NGOs have cited the “deep rooted frustration [of Arabs] at their own status as second class Israeli citizens,” as an underlying factor accounting for the widespread involvement of Arab citizens of Israel in the protests.[17]