Association for Civil Rights Demands Police Stop Closing Arab Businesses Subjected to Gunfire and Threats
The Association for Civil Rights sent an urgent letter to the Police Inspector General and the Government's Legal Adviser, demanding a halt to the issuance of administrative closure orders against Arab businesses that have been subjected to gunfire and threats from criminal elements, and instead provide protection for their owners rather than harming their livelihoods.
The Association for Civil Rights sent an urgent letter to Police Inspector General Danny Levy and Government Legal Adviser Gali Baharav-Miara, demanding a halt to the issuance of administrative closure orders against businesses in the Arab community that have been subjected to gunfire and threats from criminal elements. The demand follows reports of businesses being closed on the grounds that their continued operation might endanger public safety. In August of last year, police closed a barbershop in Ar'arat an-Naqab for ten days after it was shot at, and there were reports of closures of businesses that had been shot at in Sakhnin. Reports this week indicated seven closure orders were issued against businesses in Hura and Laqiya, against the backdrop of family disputes and crimes involving gunfire and violence. The association stressed that closing businesses for days, without taking effective measures to remove the threat, harms their owners' livelihoods and may serve the criminals themselves, as an attack on a business is enough for police measures to cause its closure. It warned that these practices may deter business owners from filing complaints with the police for fear of losing their source of income. The association noted that police adopted a different approach when branches of the "Japanika" restaurant chain were subjected to attacks and threats, deploying patrols and police personnel to protect them and ensure their continued operation without closure.