The Orr Public Commission of Inquiry investigating last fall\'s Israeli-Arab riots and deaths held its second session today, with the police fuming in the background. Yesterday\'s session was interrupted when the father of an Arab rioter - who was killed by police-fired rubber bullets - physically assaulted the policeman who allegedly shot his son. A disturbance followed, and the session resumed after an hour. Senior officers say that the policemen\'s lives are now in danger, that they appeared without legal counsel, and that the honor of the police force was trampled. It was later announced that undercover agents will appear in disguise.
Northern Police District Deputy Commissioner Avi Diller said this morning, \"The atmosphere of violence in the Arab public infiltrated the Supreme Court yesterday.\" He said that policemen were attacked also outside the courtroom. \"This is an absurd situation in that the Arabs describe a false version of the events, while the policemen are not allowed to express themselves freely,\" he said.
Today\'s session dealt with the severe riots at Um el-Fahm, where the country\'s main east-west artery - leading from Hadera to Tiberias - was closed off for several days by the rioting Arabs. The mother of one of those killed there burst out in the courtroom today with screams of, \"Punish the guilty!\" Protection on the policemen was increased in the courtroom today, but it was hard to judge its effectiveness; only Arabs testified, while tomorrow the committee will hear only policemen. The Arab witnesses claimed that there were no rock-throwings, or only very little, or that they only started after the deaths. The judges noted the inconsistencies, and said that they sensed that there were preliminary preparations made to coordinate testimonies. Sessions are open to the public.
Former Border Guard Chief Meshulam Amit told Arutz-7 today that he is unhappy with the timing of the commission of inquiry: \"How can there be such an inquiry while the war is still continuing? I haven\'t heard that the PA established a similar committee after the brutal lynching of our two soldiers in Ramallah... It’s true that we should be a light unto the nations, but the light can wait until after the war is over... We must not forget what happened at Um el-Fahm: A large mob of Israeli citizens banded together with enemy interests, blocking off main arteries of the country. A large part of the Israeli-Arab public supports our enemies who wish to see the destruction of the State of Israel... I remember when Israeli-Arab citizens in Um el-Fahm cried, \'Slaughter the Jews!\' We must not forget that the background of the Arab violence is not perceived Arab deprivation, but rather their national struggle... They were strengthened in their feelings that \'everything is permitted\' when certain politicians called for the firing of [Northern Police District Commissioner] Alik Ron [who strongly criticized some Israeli-Arab leaders for their anti-Israel incitement].\"
Northern Police District Deputy Commissioner Avi Diller said this morning, \"The atmosphere of violence in the Arab public infiltrated the Supreme Court yesterday.\" He said that policemen were attacked also outside the courtroom. \"This is an absurd situation in that the Arabs describe a false version of the events, while the policemen are not allowed to express themselves freely,\" he said.
Today\'s session dealt with the severe riots at Um el-Fahm, where the country\'s main east-west artery - leading from Hadera to Tiberias - was closed off for several days by the rioting Arabs. The mother of one of those killed there burst out in the courtroom today with screams of, \"Punish the guilty!\" Protection on the policemen was increased in the courtroom today, but it was hard to judge its effectiveness; only Arabs testified, while tomorrow the committee will hear only policemen. The Arab witnesses claimed that there were no rock-throwings, or only very little, or that they only started after the deaths. The judges noted the inconsistencies, and said that they sensed that there were preliminary preparations made to coordinate testimonies. Sessions are open to the public.
Former Border Guard Chief Meshulam Amit told Arutz-7 today that he is unhappy with the timing of the commission of inquiry: \"How can there be such an inquiry while the war is still continuing? I haven\'t heard that the PA established a similar committee after the brutal lynching of our two soldiers in Ramallah... It’s true that we should be a light unto the nations, but the light can wait until after the war is over... We must not forget what happened at Um el-Fahm: A large mob of Israeli citizens banded together with enemy interests, blocking off main arteries of the country. A large part of the Israeli-Arab public supports our enemies who wish to see the destruction of the State of Israel... I remember when Israeli-Arab citizens in Um el-Fahm cried, \'Slaughter the Jews!\' We must not forget that the background of the Arab violence is not perceived Arab deprivation, but rather their national struggle... They were strengthened in their feelings that \'everything is permitted\' when certain politicians called for the firing of [Northern Police District Commissioner] Alik Ron [who strongly criticized some Israeli-Arab leaders for their anti-Israel incitement].\"