Violent Jewish-Arab Riots Erupt in Northern Israel

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:09:13 +0000
Adam Gonn - The Media Line Editor

Acre, Israel (TML) - The Israel Police has deployed hundreds of policemen in Acre, northern Israel, in an attempt to quell riots that began last Thursday. At least 54 people - Arabs and Jews - have been arrested in the past four days for their involvement in violent riots that spread throughout the city. Fourteen people were wounded during the mutual attacks.

The violence began when an Arab driver drove his car into a Jewish residential street, during Yom Kippur, a Jewish sacred holiday during which cars are not allowed in the streets. "Not long after, a group of 150 Arab men with hoods on their faces arrived in the city and systematically smashed all the cars and display windows in several streets," Eliraz Shitrit, a 24-year-old resident of Acre, told The Media Line.

Shitrit, whose car windows were also smashed, saw the entire scene from his home.

"The Arabs advanced in the streets, holding swords and clubs and shouting 'kill the Jews,'" Shitrit said. The Police has since deployed large forces in the city, trying to control the violence. Nevertheless, for the fourth consecutive day, mass scuffles erupted across the city between the city's Jewish and Arab residents.

"The dominant factor that is currently disrupting the order are the Jews... It's a very small group and we will handle them," head of the Police Northern District, Shimon Qoren, said in an interview with the Israeli news portal Ynet.

"The problem may have begun with the Arabs, but it was the reaction of the Jews that made the whole thing much worse," Moshe Levi, a resident of Acre, told The Media Line.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on the Police to show zero tolerance towards the rioters.

"For many years Acre excelled in its coexistence... but it seems that now growing circles in the city are becoming hostages in the hands of small and radical groups on both sides," Olmert said during the regular Sunday morning cabinet meeting. The Police has already announced it would remain deployed with large forces for "a long time" until calm is achieved.

"The minute the Police get out of the city, violence will spread again. In Acre, both the Jews and Arabs are holding grudges," said Shitrit. With a population of 46,000, Acre is one of few cities in Israel, where Jews and Arabs live side by side.

### The Media Line Ltd. All Rights Reserved ###

Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved