Arab Follow-Up Committee Denounces Netanyahu's Alleged Incitement Campaign

The Higher Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens in Israel has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as a racist incitement and persecution campaign led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Arab communities in the Negev, Triangle, Galilee, and coastal cities. The committee's secretariat discussed the issue on November 5, 2026, in Baqa al-Gharbiyya and resolved to launch a counter-campaign involving demonstrations, media, legal, public, and international efforts.

In its statement, the committee denounced a "frenzied fascist racist onslaught" directly led by Netanyahu. It alleged that his office initiated police arrests of Dr. Siyyaf Abu Riyash from Rahat, Sheikh Hussein Al-Masoudin from Shaqib al-Salam, and Professor Ibrahim Al-Quraibi from the village of Al-Sir on election day, fabricating charges against them. The committee stated these individuals were later released, revealing the charges to be baseless and invented to fuel Netanyahu's incitement and rally Jewish society for the far-right.

The committee further claimed that arrest, persecution, and incitement campaigns against the entire Arab community continued on and after election day. It asserted that General Zini, the head of the Shin Bet, promoted baseless charges against Arab leaders and parties to delegitimize them politically and portray them as lawbreakers, serving Netanyahu's political interests.

The statement also decried the escalation of persecution and incitement post-election, marked by a sharp rise in racist attacks on the Arab community and the targeting of political leaders. The Shin Bet allegedly leaked news of an intention to investigate Knesset Member Ayman Odeh on fabricated charges. Additionally, journalist Abd Abu Shehadeh was reportedly arbitrarily arrested for performing his professional duties.

The Follow-Up Committee emphasized the need for unified national struggle to confront this campaign, defending the legitimacy of their political work and their right to identity and national stance. They vowed not to allow any of their leaders or political forces to be singled out, stating an attack on one is an attack on all. The committee called for participation in a demonstration on November 8, 2026, at 11 AM in front of the courthouse in Tel Aviv to protest Abu Shehadeh's arrest and demand his immediate release.