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Revision as of 14:24, 20 February 2007 by Tiamut (talk | contribs) (→8 October: adding details of Wissam's injuries)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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. The disturbances occurred as 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). Arab citizens of Israel sometimes refer to it as "The October Ignition" (هبة أكتوبر).
The Or Commission was established to investigate the root causes for the events of October 2000, and specifically, the police response to these events.
Background
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 . About 70 policemen were also reportedly injured in the clashes.
Some believe that longstanding tensions had erupted, catalyzed by Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound, the day previous,. Conversely, some sources contend that the Intifada was planned by the Palestinian Authority or other Palestinian groups. .
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 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. False allegations were made that he was shot by Israeli forces.
The Arab Human Rights Association, and other Arab-Israeli NGOs have cited their claims of “deep rooted frustration 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.
Timeline
1 October
Demonstrations and a general strike took place throughout northern Israel.
Police used rubber bullets against demonstrators in Jatt at close range (15m). Rami Khatem Gharra was shot in the eye by Border Policeman Rashed Murshid, and he died of his injuries. Many others were wounded.
2 October
The deadliest day of the events with five Arab-Israelis killed in various clashes.
Misleh Hussein Abu Jarad was killed and at least seven others were injured in Umm al-Fahm, after Commander of the Northern District, Alik Ron, gave orders to sinpiers to open fire on stone-throwers.
Walid Abdul-Menem Abu Saleh and Emad Farraj Ghanaym were killed in an industrial area in the Sakhnin area/Misgav Regional Council, when police fired live ammunition to disperse ston-throwers.
Asil Asala, 17-years old, 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.
One other person was killed in Nazareth, and one at a nearby junction. Traffic was blocked on Route 65, a main artery connecting northern and central Israel.
3 October
There was a marked reduction in violence after Prime Minister Ehud Barak met with the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee, though there were still two deaths at Kafar Manda and Kafar Kanna, respectively.
4-6 October
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.
7 October
Although a mostly calm day, clashes were renewed following the abduction of three Israeli soldiers, including for the first time clashes between Arab and Jewish civilians.
8 October
Wissam Yazbak and Omar Mohammad A'kkawi 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. Wissam, 25, sustained a fatal head wound.
Violence between Arab and Jewish civilians in areas of adjacent residence, such as on the border between Nazareth and Upper Nazareth characterised much of the day, including the killing of an Israeli civilian near Jisr az-Zarqa.
9 October
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.
10 October
Calm finally held, with a sharp reduction in violent clashes.
External links
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