Avigdor Liberman
Avigdor LibermanFlash 90

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman had harsh words for the 10,000 Israeli Arabs who rallied in northern Israel on Tuesday as they marked “Nakba Day”, or what they view as the “catastrophe” of Israel’s establishment.

The demonstrators waved PLO flags and read out the names of 530 Palestinian villages that were emptied 66 years ago, before observing a minute's silence in their memory. The ceremony mocked the Memorial Day moment of silence and reading of names, which is used in Israel to commemorate terror victims and IDF soldiers.

In response, Liberman suggested that the rioters go to Ramallah and riot there.

“I suggest that the Arabs who took part today in the ‘Nakba Day’ procession and waved Palestinian flags, should next time march straight to Ramallah - and stay there,” wrote the Foreign Minister on his Facebook page.

Palestinian Arabs mark "Nakba Day" on May 15, the day after the Gregorian calendar date for Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) but Israeli Arabs hold demonstrations on the same day that Independence Day is celebrated in Israel.

“Nakba Day” day is often characterized by protests and disturbances in Israel and outside it.

The Knesset approved in 2011 a law which has come to be known as the “Nakba Law”. The law stipulates that the Minister of Finance may withhold or reduce budgets from government-funded bodies who deny the existence of Israel.