Knesset Member Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra’am party, issued an unusual public appeal today (Friday) to Arab citizens across the country, following the declaration of a state of emergency and a sharp escalation in the security situation.
He stated that the danger currently facing the State of Israel is fundamentally different from any round of fighting or war experienced in the past—and that it requires a completely new level of preparedness and conduct.
“I call on Arab citizens to exercise heightened caution and vigilance, and to fully comply with the instructions of the Home Front Command,” Abbas said. “That is the only way to safeguard your safety and that of your families.” He added that the seriousness of the threat and the potential for a rapid deterioration in the situation demand that the public act with full responsibility and awareness.
Abbas emphasized that the Arab society in Israel aspires to peace, seeks peaceful solutions, and works to create a safe and just reality for all peoples of the region. “This is the time to come together around the values of law, order, and collective responsibility,” he concluded.
