The Hashmira Israeli Railways project sent on Sunday letters to some 100 Arab workers informing them that their contracts with the company would be terminated because they did not serve in the Israeli military.

Israeli Railway Company

One of the Arab workers said that this decision is discriminatory, and added that so far 40 Arab workers already received official dismissal letters, while the rest will most likely receive them in the next day. Arab member of Knesset, Ahmad Tibi, raised the issue at the Knesset last week and Israel’s transportation minister, Shaul Mofaz, promised to look into it.

Tibi described the Israeli decision as “discriminatory and racist”, and added sarcastically that the company should change its name to “Yisrael Beiteinu Railways”, referring to the party headed by extremist right-winger, Avigdor Lieberman, who openly calls for expelling the Arabs and the Palestinians. The company did not try to hide its discriminatory decisions and openly stated that “candidates must have completed military service”, the Ynet said. The decision by itself is forcing the Arab workers to be part of a military that occupies the lands of their brothers in the Palestinian and territories.