Arrest of 4 former Arab Knesset members shows fault lines of Arab-Israeli society regarding Gaza war

When Hamas terrorists initiated war with Israel on Oct. 7, with their murderous assault on Israeli border communities, many in the Jewish state feared a repetition of the events during Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

In May of that year, a major outbreak of riots and violence took place across majority Arab communities and mixed Arab-Jewish towns and neighborhoods, including East Jerusalem, Lod, Ramle, Jaffa and others.

For the most part, these fears have not come true so far and, despite some calls of praise for Hamas atrocities, Israel’s Arab citizens have conducted themselves responsibly.

Israel Police Chief Kobi Shabtai expressly praised the behavior of Arab-Israeli citizens during the war.

“One has to say a good word about the exemplary behavior and zero incidents, as long as there are incidents they are handled at the local level. There is contact with the leadership at the local level, and we are in dialogue, and at the same time we are ready for any scenario,” Shabtai said.

Nonetheless, some recent incidents have sparked renewed concerns.  

After the High Court upheld a prohibition against demonstrations protesting the war in Gaza and for a ceasefire, planned in the Arab-Israeli towns of Umm al-Fahm and Sakhnin, the police arrested four former Arab-Israeli Knesset members who attempted to protest despite the ban.

Former Knesset Member Muhammad Baraka of the Hadash party, and three former Knesset members from the Balad party – Hanin Zaabi, Motanas Shahada and Sami Abu Shehada, the party chairman, were all arrested in Nazareth on Thursday for incitement and violating the public order.

“The Israel Police again calls on public leaders to show responsibility and act to prevent demonstrations in violation of the law and the decision of the High Court, as they may lead to incitement and disturb the public peace,” the police said in a statement.

The detention of well-known Arab-Israeli actress Maisa Abdelhadi led to a public outcry after she celebrated the Hamas massacre on social media.

Abdelhadi was arrested on Oct. 12 and later charged with incitement to terrorism and expressing solidarity with a terror organization.

On the other hand, Ra’am party leader Mansour Abbas has earned praise for his conduct during the war.

On Oct. 7, he immediately called on the Arab citizens to show responsibility.

“I call on Arab citizens and all Arab and Jewish citizens to maintain restraint and behave responsibly and patiently, and to maintain law and order,” Abbas wrote.

Since then, Abbas has repeatedly condemned the Hamas atrocities, calling them “un-Islamic” and has made calls to free the hostages being held in Gaza.

He also attended the screening of footage from the Oct. 7 massacre in the Knesset.

In another hopeful sign, on Thursday a training match between two Arab soccer teams – Hapoel Umm al-Fahm and M.K. Kfar Qassem – opened with a minute’s silence by the athletes in memory of the Israelis killed in the Hamas terrorist attack.

The chairman of Umm al-Fahm, Muhammad Abu Alam, said the joint decision for the moment of silence with the owner of Kfar Qassem was made in order to express “the deep partnership and unity of all of us in a symbolic act; I wish us all to know good and beautiful days, Arabs and Jews alike.”