Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh on Monday called for a Palestinian uprising and praised Arab youth for their role in the recent violent clashes in Jerusalem.
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Taking to Facebook to comment on the Israel Police decision to remove crowd control barriers placed near the Damascus Gate in the Old City, Odeh published two posts, in Hebrew and in Arabic.
In Hebrew, the Joint Arab List chief's post was harsh but in line with his familiar rhetoric, saying, "This is not the first time the police and the government have acted violently, then tried to whitewash it before finally being caught in a lie.
"It is good that they removed the checkpoints at the Damascus Gate – they did nothing but sow violence and hatred. The price was paid by the residents of east Jerusalem, who will continue to fight against the occupation's oppression and discrimination."
In Arabic, however, Odeh opted for a much more fiery tone: "The occupation backed down in the face of the youth of Jerusalem and removed the barricades at Bab al-'Amud [Damascus Gate]. This was the same occupation that backed down in the face of the youth of Jerusalem and removed the metal detectors from the Al-Aqsa Mosque," he wrote.
"This wonderful and honorable victory belongs to the youth of Jerusalem. These clashes are sometimes calm and sometimes erupt, and it will be so until the intifada comes and brings an end to the occupation and hoists the Palestinian flag over the Al-Aqsa Mosque, over the churches, and over the liberated gates of Jerusalem. We extend our greetings to the free people of Jerusalem."
Right-wing NGO Im Tirtzu denounced the move, saying, "In recent days, we have been monitoring the posts of MKs from Arab parties who have nearly all voiced praise for the Arab rioters in Jerusalem.
"This support of violence against Jews is further proof why it would be a disaster to establish a government reliant on outright anti-Zionist parties that support violence and oppose Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state.
"We call on the leaders of the nationalist parties to take personal responsibility and form a nationalist government."
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