Democratic Party Condemns 'Hilltop Youth' Provocations in Galilee

The Democratic Party held a faction meeting in Majd al-Krum in the Galilee on Tuesday to express solidarity with residents facing repeated harassment from 'Hilltop Youth' groups. Party leader Yair Golan accused Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of importing the tactics of these groups from the West Bank into Israel's Galilee region.

Golan stated that Smotrich and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are targeting Arab citizens of Israel, undermining their rights and treating them as second-class citizens. He warned that if they return to government, they will implement their threats with greater force and resources. The Democratic Party, he emphasized, stands for mutual respect and equality, contrasting their approach with that of Smotrich and Netanyahu.

Members of Knesset Gilad Kariv, Naama Lazimi, and Efrat Rayten also spoke at the meeting, condemning the provocations and reaffirming the party's commitment to Jewish-Arab partnership, equality, and shared life. They accused Smotrich and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of inciting division and attempting to dismantle shared life in Israel, particularly in the Galilee and Negev regions.

Rayten, head of the Democratic Party faction, described the actions as a desperate attempt by Smotrich, Ben-Gvir, and Netanyahu to ignite Israel from within after failing to lead the country effectively. She pledged that the party would work to protect all citizens, combat racism, and develop neglected areas like the North and South.

Sumaya Bashir, a member of the party's list, and former MK Ali Salalha also voiced strong support for the residents of Majd al-Krum, condemning attempts to seize land and infringe upon the rights and dignity of Arab citizens. They called for immediate intervention by the authorities to protect landowners and enforce the law equally.