Jerusalem, December 12, 2008 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the decision of the Israel Police to stop the planned demonstration in Umm Al-Fahm by right-wing extremists.

ADL's Israel Office issued the following statement:

While we recognize and respect the importance of free speech, the inflammatory nature of this march would have done little more than intimidate and possibly provoke the Israeli-Arab citizens of Umm Al-Fahm.

Israel's democratic and open society is based on the principles of tolerance and acceptance of all peoples and it is unfortunate that the Israeli-Jewish extremist organizers of the march and those following them have chosen to express their views in such an unbecoming and incendiary manner.