16 hurt as Israel extremists march in Arab town

Clashes took place in Umm al-Fahm, a predominantly Arab Muslim town

Right-wing activists carried the Israeli flag through the streets of the city

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- A march of right-wing Jewish extremists in a northern Israeli town on Tuesday sparked a protest by Arabs that left 16 people injured, police said.


The march by Israeli extremists turned into violence on the streets of Umm al-Fahm.

Police Spokesman Mickey Rosenthal confirmed clashes in Umm al-Fahm, a predominantly Arab Muslim town, after the 45-minute march, where the Jewish demonstrators carried Israeli flags.

Arab protesters threw stones at the marchers and at the police forces, while police used tear gas and stun grenades in a bid to disperse the protests.

Three police officers, including deputy police chief, Inspector General Shahar Ayalon, were reported wounded.

There were at least 13 injured people, and six were taken to hospital. They included Arab demonstrators and Israeli leftist lawmaker Ilan Ghilon, a member of the Meretz Party who was lightly injured by a tear gas grenade.

Ten arrests were made.



<snip>

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/03/24/israel.protests/

Sweet.

I think this is much like the neo-Nazi marches in Skokie. They have the legal right to do it, but that doesn't make it any the less repulsive. None the less, if I threw rocks as the Nazis marching in Skokie, I'd be responsible for that action. I think it's a far better idea to confrong haters like these marchers, non-violently.

seems the police were there solely to protect the marchers who were there to stir up just this kind of trouble.

Seriously, if the KKK marched through a black neighborhood calling for loyalty oaths to white culture, and rocks were thrown at them, what do you think would happen?

Do you think the African Americans would be the ones in the hospital?

Whatever... Your curt response read as though the protestors DESERVE to be injured, and I think that sucks.

I hate Illinois Nazis!

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Arabs stop zionists from entering town

Zionist activist Itamar Ben-Gvir, who helped organise the rally, said: "We came to say that the state of Israel is a Jewish state.

"Whoever is loyal, is welcome, but people who flout the law should get out of here."

Among other leaders of the march was Baruch Marzel, who led the anti-Arab Kach party that was banned in 1994 and who has been questioned several times by police in connection with attacks on Israeli Arabs.

Another organiser was Michael Ben Ari, an MP with the far-right National Union settler party.

The hardliners apparently targeted Umm el-Fahm because it is home to one of Israel's largest Arab communities.

The Abraham Fund, a non-governmental organisation that promotes Jewish-Arab co-existence, described the march as "an act of incitement against the Arab public."

But Palestinian Islamist leader Sheikh Raed Salah rejected the suggestion that the demonstration was "just a simple provocation."

Mr Salah pointed out that Israel's extreme right wants to "legitimise the transfer" of Israeli-Arabs from the country.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/world/arabs_stop_zionists_from_entering_town