Arab Leadership Launches Campaign Against Civil Service for Arab Youth in Israel

The Secretariat of the Higher Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel convened in Lod to discuss several pressing issues affecting the Arab community, including the civil service for young Arabs, fines imposed due to noise from mosque loudspeakers, and crime within Arab society. The committee addressed recent fines levied on muezzins and imams in cities such as Ramla and Jaffa under a new law restricting excessive noise from mosque amplification systems during prayer calls. Jamal Zahalka, chairman of the committee, criticized these fines as an infringement on Muslim religious freedom.

The committee reaffirmed its opposition to the civil service program for Arab youth, describing itself as the unifying body determining the Arab community's stance on this matter. To strengthen their position, the committee is preparing to launch an awareness campaign through media and social networks aimed at explaining their opposition to the civil service to young Arabs.

Politically, the committee called on the Arab public to participate in a nationwide protest scheduled for the upcoming Saturday in Umm al-Fahm. The demonstration is intended to protest what the committee terms as "attacks" by settlers and the Israel Defense Forces in the West Bank and the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Zahalka addressed the issue of crime and violence within Arab society, urging collective responsibility and broad community involvement to protect the community internally.