Israel Police started evacuating the unrecognized Bedouin village Umm al-Hiran on the night of Jan. 18, 2017. The villagers protested against the pending demolitions of their homes. During the evacuation, police officer Erez Levy was killed when Yacoub Abu al-Qiyan hit him with his car. Another police officer shot at the car and injured Abu al-Qiyan. While police were quick to label Abu al-Qiyan as a terrorist and supporter of the Islamic State (IS), his family denied these allegations.
In a law-abiding country, the people who were ultimately responsible for the shooting and killing of Bedouin educator Abu al-Qiyan and who then depicted him as a terrorist would at least face disciplinary action and even criminal charges. The minister of internal security and the superintendent of police would then resign from their positions, effective immediately.
