Adalah Demands Criminal Investigation into Mayor of Natseret Illit for Racial Incitement against Arab Citizens of Israel
On 12 June 2011, Adalah sent an urgent letter to the Israeli Attorney General, Yehuda Weinstein, to demand a criminal investigation into the Mayor of Natseret Illit, Shimon Gapso, following racist remarks he made against Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel in the Kol al-Arab newspaper and on the Channel 10 television program "London and Kirchenbaum". Adalah Attorney Rima Ayoub wrote the letter on behalf of members of the Natseret Illit Municipality, Dr. Raed Ghattas and Dr. Shukri 'Awawdeh.
Mr. Gapso's racist statements include: that if he were present during the October 2000 events then the number of Arabs killed would have been higher; that he wanted Natseret Illit to be Jewish, promising a Jewish majority of 95% in the town by 2020; and that he would not invite Arabs to live in Natseret Illit, but would call on Jewish people in Israel and abroad to come to live there. Mr. Gapso also made statements that grossly offend religious sentiment, including that as long as he was mayor, he would ensure that no mosque was built in the town, and that he would not allow a Christmas tree to be put up in public spaces.
In the letter, Adalah argued that Mr. Gapso had repeated his statements to different media outlets and that they constituted racial incitement against Arab citizens and insulted their religious sensitivities. Thus the making of these remarks constituted criminal offenses under Israel's Penal Law. As such, Adalah contended, they necessitated a criminal investigation.
Dr. Raed Ghattas, a member of the Natseret Illit Municipality, commented that, "We are not surprised that Gapso has made these statements since we are aware of his racist positions against Arab citizens in general. However, we were shocked on this occasion by the severity of the statements, which amount to racial incitement against Arab citizens in Natseret Illit, and Arab citizens of Israel in general. We therefore believe that Gapso does not deserve to continue in his position as mayor of Natseret Illit and that a criminal investigation should be opened against him."
