BICOM

Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin visited the southern Bedouin city of Rahat yesterday and emphasised the key role of the community in the State of Israel.

Rivlin’s visit came just weeks after deadly clashes between police and local Bedouin residents killed two people. 21-year-old Sami Jehar was killed during a riot after police officers came to execute an arrest warrant as part of a drugs investigation. Days later at Jehar’s funeral, a police van was blocked by cars and attacked from all directions. Police officers used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the rioters. 45-year-old Sami Ziadna died in the incident, which appeared to be the result of a pre-existing heart condition. However, Rahat locals have blamed police aggression.

Rivlin yesterday visited the families of both Jehar and Ziadna, offering his condolences in a gesture of solidarity. He said, “You are the sons and daughters of this land, equal citizens, an inseparable part of the State of Israel,” emphasising, “There cannot be in the State of Israel, first and second class citizens.” Rivlin added that the state “is obliged to carry out brave and significant steps to bridge the economic gaps – in resources, infrastructure and industry – between the Jewish public, and the Arab and Bedouin communities.”

Earlier this week, Rivlin hosted leaders of the Arab community and last week threw his support behind an initiative to integrate more Arab citizens into all levels of Israel’s workforce. Rivlin commented that, “Too many Israeli Jews have a blind spot in their attitudes toward Arabs,” and urged Arab and Jewish colleagues to get to know each other better, to form genuine friendships. Rivlin declared that, “The Arab community can no longer be regarded as a minority” and insisted it cannot be ignored “that this country is also their homeland.”

Prior to the Presidency, Rivlin served for many years as a Likud member of Knesset, where he was a staunch defender of minority rights and Israel’s democratic values.