ABSTRACT
On 9 November 2000, the Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak, announced the establishment of a state commission of inquiry to investigate the violent clashes in early October 2000 in Israel’s Arab sector. Barak’s decision came after heavy pressure from the leaders of the Israeli Arab community. The government’s announcement stated that the commission would investigate the sequence of events that culminated in the killing of thirteen Arab citizens by the security forces of Israel. The violence was triggered by the Temple Mount visit by the opposition leader, Ariel Sharon, and the subsequent Al Aqsa Intifada uprising in the occupied territories of the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. The Arab population was protesting against civic inequality and the excessive use of force by police in cracking down on the demonstrations.
