Arab Medical Staff Confront Rising Incitement in Israel

An emergency conference was held in Kafr Qara on Sunday evening to address what organizers called incitement and racism against Arab medical teams in Israel. The conference, titled "We Will Not Allow Incitement to Harm the Health System," was organized by the Forum for Health Advancement in the Arab Society and supported by several organizations, including the Association of Arab Doctors in the Negev and the Kafr Qara Municipality.

The meeting comes amid a reported increase in hostility towards Arab medical professionals, which participants attributed to Israeli media, extremist Knesset members, and government ministers. Kafr Qara Mayor Firas Badhi stated that the state should be ashamed of the incitement coming from various Israeli sources and vowed to pursue legal action against those inciting hatred.

Doctor Aziz Darawshe highlighted the spread of racist rhetoric across Israeli society, emphasizing that without Arab medical staff, healthcare institutions could not function. He called for government support and punishment for those engaging in incitement.

Professor Salim Haj Yahya, a heart surgeon, described the current situation as "fascism" and linked it to extremism and societal changes in Israel in recent years. He urged medical professionals not to let incitement erode their self-confidence.

The conference included a panel discussion moderated by Professor Naim Abu Freha, featuring Doctors Ahmad Tibi, Yasser Hijrat, and Rotem Sivan, who discussed the racism faced by Arab doctors.