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Israeli Arab arrested after riots | Israeli Arab arrested after riots |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Police have arrested an Israeli Arab man who sparked four days of rioting in the town of Acre by driving in a Jewish area during the Yom Kippur holiday. | Police have arrested an Israeli Arab man who sparked four days of rioting in the town of Acre by driving in a Jewish area during the Yom Kippur holiday. |
Tawfik Jamal was remanded in custody on Monday for three days for reckless endangerment, speeding and harming religious sensitivities, police said. | Tawfik Jamal was remanded in custody on Monday for three days for reckless endangerment, speeding and harming religious sensitivities, police said. |
Mr Jamal earlier said he regretted his "mistake", but denied accusations that he had been drunk or played loud music. | Mr Jamal earlier said he regretted his "mistake", but denied accusations that he had been drunk or played loud music. |
Police have arrested 64 people since the unrest erupted late last Wednesday. | Police have arrested 64 people since the unrest erupted late last Wednesday. |
On Monday, Israel President Shimon Peres called for reconciliation between the Jewish and Israeli-Arab communities in the town, where about 14 Israeli-Arab families remain unable to return to their homes. | On Monday, Israel President Shimon Peres called for reconciliation between the Jewish and Israeli-Arab communities in the town, where about 14 Israeli-Arab families remain unable to return to their homes. |
Hundreds of Israeli police officers are continuing to maintain a strong security presence in the town. | Hundreds of Israeli police officers are continuing to maintain a strong security presence in the town. |
Plea for harmony | Plea for harmony |
On Sunday, Mr Jamal told a committee of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, he would "sacrifice his neck" to restore harmony to Acre. | On Sunday, Mr Jamal told a committee of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, he would "sacrifice his neck" to restore harmony to Acre. |
I am sure some Jews also drove on Yom Kippur - will the police arrest them? Abbas ZkoorMK for Acre Jewish-Arab riots shock Israeli city class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7667742.stm">Witness accounts: rioting in Acre | |
"If what I did caused this, I am ready to sacrifice my neck right here on this table, on lowered gallows, just to return peace and quiet back to the city of Acre, to bring co-existence back to its place," he said. | "If what I did caused this, I am ready to sacrifice my neck right here on this table, on lowered gallows, just to return peace and quiet back to the city of Acre, to bring co-existence back to its place," he said. |
He added that he had been one of the founders of a community co-existence committee in the mixed northern town. | He added that he had been one of the founders of a community co-existence committee in the mixed northern town. |
"We invented co-existence," he said. "They have made me out to be a murderer, they have turned me into a fascist. We are not Nazis, we are not fascists." | "We invented co-existence," he said. "They have made me out to be a murderer, they have turned me into a fascist. We are not Nazis, we are not fascists." |
Following Mr Jamal's arrest on Monday night, Israeli-Arab lawmakers said the arrest was politically motivated and demanded his release. | Following Mr Jamal's arrest on Monday night, Israeli-Arab lawmakers said the arrest was politically motivated and demanded his release. |
"I am sure some Jews also drove on Yom Kippur. Will the police arrest them?" asked Abbas Zkoor, an MK for Acre. | "I am sure some Jews also drove on Yom Kippur. Will the police arrest them?" asked Abbas Zkoor, an MK for Acre. |
President Peres urged both sides not to inflame the situation further | President Peres urged both sides not to inflame the situation further |
Religious Jews fast and refrain from driving on Yom Kippur, regarded the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. | Religious Jews fast and refrain from driving on Yom Kippur, regarded the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. |
The rioting in Acre first broke out late on Wednesday, when Jewish youths attacked Mr Jamal after he drove into a conservative area in the east of the town. | The rioting in Acre first broke out late on Wednesday, when Jewish youths attacked Mr Jamal after he drove into a conservative area in the east of the town. |
An Israeli-Arab mob subsequently rampaged through the streets after the rumour spread that Mr Jamal had been killed. | An Israeli-Arab mob subsequently rampaged through the streets after the rumour spread that Mr Jamal had been killed. |
In the days that followed, crowds of Jews and Israeli Arabs tried to attack each other, and each other's property. At least three Israeli-Arab homes were torched, police said. | In the days that followed, crowds of Jews and Israeli Arabs tried to attack each other, and each other's property. At least three Israeli-Arab homes were torched, police said. |
About 10 police were injured by rioters, but no civilians were hurt, they added. Of the 64 people arrested, about half of them were Arab, the rest Jewish. | About 10 police were injured by rioters, but no civilians were hurt, they added. Of the 64 people arrested, about half of them were Arab, the rest Jewish. |
Appeal for calm | Appeal for calm |
In a call on community leaders and politicians on Monday, President Peres warned that while "there are several religions in Israel, there is only one law and one police". | In a call on community leaders and politicians on Monday, President Peres warned that while "there are several religions in Israel, there is only one law and one police". |
"We must be careful with every word, for words can be deadly," he said. | "We must be careful with every word, for words can be deadly," he said. |
About one-third of Acre's population are Israeli Arabs, with the highest concentration in the Old City. | About one-third of Acre's population are Israeli Arabs, with the highest concentration in the Old City. |
Israeli Arabs are people of Palestinian origin whose forbears remained in Israel after the foundation of the country in 1948. | Israeli Arabs are people of Palestinian origin whose forbears remained in Israel after the foundation of the country in 1948. |
They number about one million - about one-fifth of the Israeli population - and although they have full rights as Israeli citizens, human rights groups have long said they face discrimination and exclusion. | They number about one million - about one-fifth of the Israeli population - and although they have full rights as Israeli citizens, human rights groups have long said they face discrimination and exclusion. |
On Sunday, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert admitted that "for many years there has been discrimination against the Arab population". | On Sunday, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert admitted that "for many years there has been discrimination against the Arab population". |
He has called for zero tolerance against rioters in the town, which he said had previously been a "shining example of co-existence". | He has called for zero tolerance against rioters in the town, which he said had previously been a "shining example of co-existence". |
Are you in Acre? Have you been affected by the violence? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in Acre? Have you been affected by the violence? Send us your comments using the form below: |
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