Israeli-Arabs rejoice in solidarity with Egyptian people

Over a thousand people march in Nazareth waving Egyptian, Tunisian, and Palestinian flags during rally organized by Balad party.

By BEN HARTMAN
Over a thousand people marched in Nazareth on Saturday, in a demonstration to show support for the January 25th revolution in Egypt that brought the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak on Friday after 30 years in power.
During the march, participants waved Egyptian, Tunisian, and Palestinian flags, as well as a number of large photos of former Egyptian President Gamal Abdul-Nassar, who led the country during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the 1967 Six Day War against Israel, and was a major supporter of the concept of “Pan-Arabism”.
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The march was organized by the Balad party, and followed spontaneous celebrations that broke out in towns and villages across the Arab sector on Friday night following Mubarak’s resignation.
In Jaffa, hundreds took to the streets Friday night waving Egyptian flags, shooting off fireworks and celebrating in the streets. For hours, the sound of cars honking their horns could be heard up and down Yefet Street the city’s main thoroughfare.
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Kamal Agbariya, the head of the Ajami neighborhood committee in Jaffa, said Saturday that the celebrations in the city were completely spontaneous and that people rejoiced because “they know that whenever there is a dictatorship there is a complete disconnect between the people and the leader. It doesn’t matter what the people want the leader become a collaborator for the United States.”
“Look at Egypt, the government wanted to help with the Gaza embargo, and it didn’t matter that the people were against it.”
When asked if the solidarity with the Egyptian people reflects any opinion on the situation on the ground for Arab citizens of Israel, Agbariya said “it has nothing to do with what is going on in Israel; we just wanted to show our support and identification with the Egyptian people’s struggle.”