Scattered groups of Arab Israelis and Palestinians demonstrate for the second consecutive day against what they consider offensive remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron against Islam and its prophet, Mohammad.
Several dozen Arab Israeli demonstrators protest in front of the French Embassy in Tel Aviv during the afternoon, with protesters chanting “with spirit and blood, we’ll redeem you, oh Mohammad.” Some demonstrators hold signs comparing Macron to a medieval crusader.
“We are going before the French Embassy in Tel Aviv to make our voice heard. We hate no one. But we hate those who aggress against our prophet. We will side with no one who [does] that. The prophet did not insult anyone, so why he should be insulted?” says Al-Aqsa Association President Safwat Freij in a video statement.
“God’s prophet lives within us. Our cities teem with activities as we chant our love for the prophet, and that he truly is ‘mercy unto the world,” Freij says, quoting a well-known Qur’anic description of Mohammad.
Palestinians also gather in al-Manarah Square in Ramallah, holding signs criticizing Macron and even burning photographs of the French president.
Arab Israeli Muslim demonstrators, mask-clad due to the coronavirus pandemic, hold up signs depicting French President Emmanuel Macron as a medieval crusading knight, during a protest against comments by Macron defending cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, near the French embassy in Tel Aviv on October 27, 2020. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)
— Aaron Boxerman
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Tuesday, October 27, 2020
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