Israeli Housing Minister Concerned over increasing Arab population
by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agenciessraeli Housing Minister of the extremist Shas movement stated Thursday that it is essential for the state of Israel to construct settlements in the Negev and the Galilee to 'counter the increasing number of Arabs who do not love Israel'.
Eitas stated that he is concerned about the increasing number of Arabs in different parts of Israel, and that he believes bringing more settlers to the Horesh religious Jewish settlement is a national task, the Arabs48 news website reported.
As for the Galilee, Eitas said that 'if the current situation does not change, Israel would lose the Galilee', and added that the population there should not be mixed.
He also said that it is not suitable to have Arabs and Jews living together, and that Israel is 'losing' Akka (Acre) due to increasing Arab population. He added that he met with Acre mayor for three hours to discuss the 'means to save Akka.
Eitas said that the Mayor of Akka asked him to bring more Haredi religious settlers to live in Akka, and stated that the Arabs are living in apartment buildings inhibited by Jews, an issue which is 'forcing' the Jews to leave.
He further said that the marketing of the lands for construction purposes should be conducted in a way that Separates between the Jews and the Arabs, and also separates between religious and secular Jews.
Arab member of Knesset, Jamal Zahalka, said that 'if the Arab population is causing concern to racists, then we are on the right track'.
Zahalka added that Eitas and his followers must understand that the Arabs are the natives of this country, and have the right to populate the land.
'We did not steal the land, unlike what Israel did when it exiled our people and annexed our lands and country', Zahalka said, 'Such statements pushes us to counter this racism, and to defend our homes and land'.
The Arab member of Knesset also said that the lands Eitas wants to market to the religious and secular Jews belongs to the Arabs and were illegally annexed from their legitimate owners.
