Lapid: The people of Israel, Jews and Arabs, are far better than this

Opposition leader Yair Lapid says: “The rioters in Lod and Acre don’t represent every Israeli Arab, the rioters in Bat Yam and the members of La Familia, Lehava and Kahana Lives [far-right Jewish groups] are a bunch of pathetic racists who don’t represent Israel’s Jews.”

He says that “the vast majority of the people of Israel, Jews and Arabs, are far better than this. The majority of us believe in coexistence. The role of leadership on both sides is to lower the flames, call on everyone to obey the law, reduce tensions and help restore order.”

Lapid insists that “Violence won’t defeat us. Violence won’t dictate our lives. We won’t allow a situation where synagogues are burnt, innocent people are beaten and the lives of those living in [Jewish-Arab] cities are turned into a living hell.”