Israeli authorities prosecute Arab fishermen in the port of Jaffa, restrict their activities and impose more crippling conditions on them so as prevent the continuation of their work on a regular basis and compel them to migrate away from the area, the fishermen have said.
Yesterday police forces stormed the port and threatened to confiscate Arab fishermen’s fish under the pretext that they are selling it illegally.
The prosecution of fishermen comes as part of the plan by the Development Authority of the Tel Aviv Municipality to seize real estate and property in Old Jaffa and use it for development and tourism with the aim of serving the goals of Judaisation and settlement expansion, the fishermen said.
Recently, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) has sought to empty the port of Arab fishermen. It forces the fishermen to sign contracts that restrict their activities. The EDA puts clauses in the contract that are impossible to implement or abide by.
According to Arab fishermen, the EDA seeks to develop the area and rent it out in a project that may generate hundreds of thousands of shekels.
The Middle East Monitor 2009-2014