Slippery Slope

A report by the Central Statistics Bureau, which examined life expectancy in Israel between 2005 and 2009, shows that there is an 8.5 year gap in life expectancy between those living in Ra’anana, which has the country’s highest life expectancy, and residents of Rahat, with the lowest.  The four towns with the lowest life expectancy are either Arabic or with a mixed population – Rahat, Nazareth, Lod and Ramle. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Mayor of Upper Nazareth, Shimon Gafsou, sent a letter to Interior Minister Eli Yishai calling on him to declare the city of Nazareth as a “city hostile to the State of Israel”, and to stop all government funding to the city. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

A threat letter was sent to MKs Mohammad Baraka (Hadash), Hana Sweid (Hadash) and Ahmad Tibi (Ra’am-Ta’al), as well at to the Mayor of Nazareth Ramiz Jaraisy. The letter writer, who calls himself “Johan Rasmussen” claims to belong to an organization called “Pulsa Dinura committee”. He warned the receiver that a Pulsa Dinura curse, similar to the “curse that killed Yizhak Rabin”, was laid on them.

(Hebrew)

Nazem Abu-Salim Scaffa, who is the Imam for the Shihab al-Din mosque in Nazareth, was convicted in the Nazareth Magistrate Court on accounts of violence incitement, terrorism and supporting a terrorist organization.

(Hebrew)

Prosecution in the Northern District has filed an indictment against Sheikh Nazim Abu Salim, imam of the Shihab a-Din mosque in Nazareth, who is suspected of inciting violence, terrorism, and support of a terrorist organization (Hebrew)