Right-wing Israelis, settlers provoke clashes in Umm Al-Fahm
24 March 2009
Ma'an/Agencies - Violence erupted in Israel's largest Arab city, Umm Al-Fahm, on Tuesday as hoards of right-wing Israelis held protest marches demanding "Arab loyalty" to the state of Israel.
The protesters, many of them setters from Hebron and other parts of the occupied West Bank, traveled to the northern Israel city that is home to 150,000 Palestinians in what appeared to be a direct provocation to residents.
The march was okayed by the Supreme Court two months ago, according to the Israeli press agency Yedioth Ahronoth, and the daily newspaper Haaretz noted Israeli police committed to protecting the marchers.
Neither outlet clarified a purpose for the march beyond statements demanding "loyalty" for the state of Israel.
Umm Al-Fahm residents called a general strike Tuesday in order to prevent the march from entering the city center, and several peace activist groups in Israel sent members to support the locals.
The violence, which lasted for 45 minutes, saw Deputy Israeli Police Commissioner Shahar Ayalon and Knesset Member Ilan Ghilon lightly injured. There were no reports indicating how many Palestinians were injured in the clashes.
"All we are doing is waving the Israeli flag. All we are demanding is loyalty to the State, and that the police will be able to move freely and enforce the law. We are not here to provoke or expel anyone," one agency quoted the right-wing Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ari as saying.
