Northern Israel Arabs riot after car accident

Northern Israel residents stone paramedics after accident between car, bus; police called to scene

Ahiya Raved|Last update: 10.30.10 , 16:51

Arab residents of northern Israel stoned emergency forces called in to treat the victims of a car accident on Highway 65 Saturday.

At least one person was killed and 15 others were lightly wounded after a car collided with a bus at the entrance to a local community. An initial investigation revealed that the accident was caused after the driver of the car attempted to flee from police.

Road blocked following accident (Photo: Panet Website)

Local residents clashed with paramedics called to the scene to treat the wounded and hurled stones at them. Police forces were promptly dispatched to the area and calmed the tensions.

Following the accident, the highway was temporarily blocked for traffic in both directions. Heavy traffic jams continued in the area even after the road reopened, as local residents continued to gather at the site.

Tensions have been high in the Wadi Ara region in northern Israel, after local residents clashed with police and rioted Wednesday to protest a rightist march in the town of Umm al-Fahm. The march, organized by 25 rightist activists demanding that Israel's Islamic Movement be outlawed, prompted anger among Arab residents, who prepared a rude welcome for the marchers.

Police deployed in force in town and fired stun and gas grenades at rioters. Several Arab protestors were detained and five police officers were wounded in the riots.