Tens of thousands attended the protest in Rabin Square Saturday night to call for the annulment or change of the Nationality Law, but one prominent Druze, Brig. Gen. Imad Fares, thinks that the prime minister's proposal to resolve the crisis should be accepted.

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"We have to know when to stop tugging the rope. We do not want to tear the connection, we want to strengthen it," he told Ynet.

"I have nothing against the demonstration, I am in favor of the demonstration," Fares stressed, but called to accept an outline proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for legislation to enshrine the Druze community's status into law.

Brig. Gen. Imad Fares (Photo: Tal Shahar)

"All the efforts that have been made have led to an opportunity that we can take advantage of and not lose, namely to accept the prime minister's proposal and to bring about an historic opportunity for equality for the Druze community in Israel," he said.

According to Fares, Netanyahu's proposal is "an unprecedented opportunity for achieving equality and a better future for Druze youth in the State of Israel. Our connection to the State of Israel is a strong and solid connection, out of conviction and not out of narrow changing interests. We do not want to sever the bond, we want to strengthen it. We have demonstrated, we have fought for equality, but we do not want to bear all the problems of Israeli society on our narrow shoulders. We wish to take care of our sect, which is our priority.”

Druze protest at Rabin Sq. (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"It is important for me to say that I expect the leadership in the State of Israel to truly utilize the situation and to place the Druze community where it is supposed to be, as an equal among equals, a sect that has given everything and will continue to give for the security of the state, with faith in its symbols and laws," Fares added.

When asked for his opinion on the Nationality Law itself, Brig. Gen. Fares avoided the question, saying he "is in favor of equality for the community of which I am a member, a community which has dedicated its whole life for years, without reward, with the understanding and belief that this is the right country to live in, to believe in its symbols and Basic Law and to do everything in order to live as equal Israeli citizens, among the Jewish people. This is my personal opinion, I am not party to any movement.”

(Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, one of the speakers at the Rabin Square protest, called on the Druze not to accept Netanyahu's offer: "My Druze friends, do not fall into the honey trap that was offered to you, this is another attempt to divide and separate. To mark who is in and who is out, and those who are out are the enemy. I know how much courage and determination you need to stand here and yet (I call on you) continue to fight with us so that the nation-state of the Jewish people will continue to be democratic and egalitarian."