Police say will take firm stance
Photo: Hagai Aharon
Police: Druze rioting intentionally
Druze riots continue for seventh consecutive day as police try to secure work on disputed pipeline
Clashes between police and the Druze residents of the north continued Monday in the Carmel Mountain area, and dozens of teens threw stones at police stations and cruisers. Five officers were lightly injured and four teens were arrested.
The Druze protest began Tuesday following work that began on a new pipeline in agricultural fields near Yokneam. The Druze claim negotiations on the fields, which belong to them, were not completed before the project was started.
Clashes With Police
Youngsters protesting laying of natural gas pipeline on their lands throw firebomb at officers, while others try to run cop over and set fire to grove
So far 20 people have been arrested in the clashes that followed, which often turned violent. The court has remanded the arrest of some while prohibiting others from entering the villages of Daliyat el-Carmel and Isfiya.
Police officials are currently holding meetings with the leaders of the Druze sect, among them its spiritual leader Mowafak Tarif. The most recent meeting was held Saturday at Isfiya's council, in which the leaders vowed to do all in their power to stop teens from rioting. "It is hurting our image and our livelihood," one leader said.
Deputy Inspector General Moni Atiya told Ynet, "The teens come here with the specific intention of clashing with police and damaging stations."
He added that officers were determined to take a firm stance with them in order to enable work on the pipeline to continue. "I am conveying a message to these outlaws – we will not allow you to attack police stations or officers. We will not allow the public order to be disturbed," Atiya said.
