国际英语新闻：Israeli Arabs celebrate Mubarak's resignation

NAZARETH, Israel, Feb. 12, (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 Israeli Arabs attended a rally Saturday in Israeli northern town of Nazareth to celebrate the ouster of Egypt's long-time President Hosni Mubarak.

Waving Egyptian, Tunisian and Palestinian flags, participants held up signs saying "The Egyptian people are heroes."

Hanin Zuabi, member of Israel's Knesset (parliament) from Balad Party which organized the celebration, told Xinhua she believed the stepping down of Mubarak was not a matter relevant only to Egypt, but also to the whole Arab world.

"I think it will affect the whole politics in the Middle East and Arab world. As Egypt is the leader of the Arab world, the foreign affairs and foreign policy of Egypt will affect all of the Arab countries," she said.

The legislator criticized that Mubarak's authority cared more about the interest of the United States and Israel instead of the Arabs.

She hoped the new Egyptian authority would implement pro-Arab foreign policy, "because it is the desire of the people."

"The establishment of a Palestinian state is also an expression of the power of the people and their rights," she added.

The Balad's spokesperson Tareq Berkdar described it a great moment of history for Egyptian and the Arab world in general, and said "we are hoping that Egypt could back to the Arab world and Arab world's leadership."

Mubarak stepped down on Friday afternoon as the Egyptian military took charge of the country, after more than two weeks of mass protests against his 30-year rule.