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The Acre Riots
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| Contributor | Craverguy |
| Last Edited | Craverguy Oct 16, 2008 09:26am |
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| Category | News |
| News Date | Thursday, October 16, 2008 03:25:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Nazareth – Israel has been suffering its worst bout of inter-communal violence since the start of the second intifada, with a week of what has been widely presented as "rioting" by Jewish and Arab residents of the northern port city of Acre.
The trigger for the outbursts occurred on the night of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The country effectively shuts down for 24 hours as religious Jews fast and abstain from most activity, leaving secular Jews little choice but to do likewise.
According to reports, an Arab resident, Tawfik Jamal, outraged a group of Jews by disturbing the day's sanctity and driving to relatives in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood. He and his teenage son were pelted with stones.
The pair sought sanctuary in the relatives' home as a mob gathered outside chanting "Death to the Arabs." Israeli police who tried to rescue the family fled when they were attacked, too.
With news of Mr Jamal's death mistakenly broadcast over mosque loudspeakers, Arab youths marched to the city centre and smashed shop windows in a display of anger.
In subsequent days, Jewish gangs have roamed Acre's streets and torched several Arab homes, forcing dozens of Arab families living in Jewish-dominated areas to flee.
An Arab member of the Israeli parliament, Ahmed Tibi, observed that what is occurring in Acre is not a riot but a "pogrom," conducted by Jewish residents against their Arab neighbours. |
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