Arab Higher Follow-Up Committee condemns Netanyahu's incitement campaign, announces counter-protests

The Arab Higher Follow-Up Committee condemned what it called an incitement and persecution campaign by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the Arab community, and announced counter-measures including protests, media campaigns, and legal actions. It called for a demonstration in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

The Higher Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens condemned the campaign of incitement and persecution led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the Arab community in the Negev, the Triangle, the Galilee, and the coastal cities. This came in a statement issued after a meeting of its secretariat in Baqa al-Gharbiyye on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The committee decided to launch a counter-campaign including demonstrations, statements, media, legal, public, and international campaigns. The statement indicated that Netanyahu, through his office, initiated on election day the direction of police to arrest Dr. Sayyaf Abu Riyash, Sheikh Hussein al-Mas'udin, and Professor Ibrahim al-Quraibi on charges the committee described as fabricated, and they were later released. The statement also criticized the promotion by Shin Bet head General Zini of accusations against Arab leaders and parties, and the leaking of information about an intention to investigate MK Ayman Odeh. The committee condemned the arrest of journalist Abd Abu Shahada and considered it arbitrary. It called for participation in a demonstration on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in front of the Tel Aviv courthouse to protest the arrest of Abu Shahada.