Thousands of people took part Friday in a protest march in the Arab city of Sakhnin in northern Israel following Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's decision not to indict the police officers involved in the October 2000 riots, which left 13 Israeli Arabs dead.

The protestors carried a coffin simulating the Israeli legal system and promised to continue their struggle until those involved in the events pay for their actions.

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The demonstration was attended by the family members of the riots' casualties, including Jamila Asala, who held the picture of her son Asil, killed during the riots in the village of Arabeh in northern Israel.

"Our lands can be confiscated, our sons can be murdered, but our dignity cannot be taken away. We shall not keep quiet and we shall show the world what a racist establishment this is, so that everyone knows what is taking place in the State of Israel.

"We will show them what dignity is. Palestinian blood is the most precious thing," Asala said.

According to Asala, her son was killed as a shahid (martyr) defending his land.

"This is a shahid of the land, of his people. My son was murdered for being a Palestinian defending his land. The passing years only increase the pain.

"This large amount of people is an answer to Mazuz and to the racist establishment. They thought that the years gone by have erased our memories and caused us to forget, but a murdered shahid will never be forgotten," she added.

'Same fingerprints on gun and pen'

Hassan, Asil's father, read out the names of the police officers involved in the events and promised to avenge the casualties' death. "I promise the shahids that I will pursue the criminals. We will pursue them to the last drop of blood," he said.

Hadash chairman, Knesset Member Mohammad Barakhe, said that Mazuz's decision would have far-reaching consequences.

"The impressive participation in the Sakhnin demonstration is an unequivocal cry against the racist establishment, headed by Meni Mazuz, over their decision which throws us and our sons to the dogs. The appeal to the courts should include the murderers, their senders and those covering for them," he said.

Balad chairman, MK Jamal Zahalka, also slammed the legal system, which he claimed had betrayed the trust of the Arab public.

"The hand which wrote the Police Investigation Unit report and the Mazuz report is the same hand which pulled the trigger in October 2000 and killed 13 of our sons.

"The gun that fired the shots and the pen used to write the report have the same fingerprints on them. The Arab public gave the Israeli legal system a chance to reveal the truth, but it failed to do so," Zahalka said.