Israel Police and the Shin Bet domestic security agency arrested dozens of people Sunday on suspicion of taking part in the ongoing racially motivated riots raging across the country.
In the mixed central city of Lod — a major flashpoint of Arab riots and attacks on Jewish civilians — police have arrested six people suspected of opening live fire, throwing rocks and hurling firebombs at officers, as well as disturbing public order.
In East Jerusalem, security forces arrested 20 Palestinian activists affiliated with the Hamas terrorist group. Police also detained two people for questioning after they allegedly assaulted a passerby in one of the Old City's alleys.
Shin Bet announced that it had arrested five people suspected of attempted lynching of Jews in the Negev.
Meanwhile, police announced that six people, among them several minors, were also arrested in the Negev on suspicion of disrupting train traffic by placing burning tires on railway tracks.
Police added that additional arrests were made in the Negev after roads were blocked by rioters and stones hurled at cars.
In northern Israel's Western Galilee, police arrested five people suspected of throwing stones at police officers, setting fire to tires and burning farmlands.
Earlier on Sunday, Jewish residents of Lod discovered that their homes were broken into and ransacked by Arab neighbors while they found shelter away from the riots outside the city.
Furniture was smashed, appliances broken and religious books vandalized. Police said at least 30 people were arrested on Saturday for their suspected part in the rioting, among them at least 12 members of local crime gangs.
Also earlier on Sunday, Shin Bet said it had arrested dozens of Arab citizens on suspicion that they participated in attacks of Jews, including targeting a family that wandered into the Arab city of Umm al Fahm last week and was accosted by a lynch mob.
Riots broke out in both the Arab sector and in mixed Jewish and Arab cities on Saturday, marking the fifth straight day of civil unrest.
Police uncovered on Saturday a cache of firebombs ready for use inside a mosque in Lod during a search conducted by officers and the local Imam.
In an attempt to prevent further violence, Defense Minister Benny Gantz extended the civil emergency in Lod and roadblocks were placed to prevent anarchists and agitators from entering the city. Authorities have also imposed a nighttime curfew which carried a penalty of three years imprisonment for anyone found violating the order.
Meanwhile, Arab rioters burnt down a Jewish-owned shop in the local market of the mixed central city of Ramla. Others shot firecrackers at Jewish civilians as they were seeking shelter while rocket sirens blared.
Border Police identified suspects on the streets of the northern city of Tiberias armed with batons on Saturday. The four suspects, all men in their 20s, were arrested.
Fireworks fired in Ramla
Rioters have also attempted obstructing traffic across the country by blocking numerous roads and some suspects even threw rocks at passing vehicles on Highway 2 which connects all metropolitan areas across Israel's coastline. Police forces arrested two residents of the Arab town of Jisr az-Zarqa on suspicion of throwing rocks and possession of Molotov cocktails.
First published: 15:38, 05.16.21