Arab-Israelis Clash With Police at Demonstration Against Operation in Gaza

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By JTA July 21, 2014

Arab-Israeli protesters clashed with police at a demonstration in Nazareth against Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

About 200 protesters threw rocks and glass bottles at police, according to reports on the demonstration Monday night in the northern Israeli city. Ten demonstrators were arrested.

Some 3,000 Arab-Israelis attended the rally.

Among those involved in clashes with police were Arab-Israeli lawmakers Hanin Zoabi, Basel Ghattas and Mohammad Barakeh, according to the Times of Israel. Zoabi was detained over the weekend after clashing with police during a demonstration in Haifa.

Police reportedly broke up the Nazareth demonstration with water cannons and stun grenades.

Arab-Israeli businessmen throughout Israel on Monday closed their places of businesses as part of a general strike announced by the Arab High Monitoring Committee in protest of Israel’s military operation in Gaza. Arab lawmakers observed the strike and did not show up for work at the Knesset on Monday, according to reports.

In response, Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman in a post on Facebook urged Israelis to boycott stores taking part in the strike, setting off a hailstorm of criticism.

“The Arab citizens of Israel have the right, like any other citizen, to express their solidarity with their brothers suffering in Gaza,” Zahava Gal-On, head of the left-wing Meretz party said, accusing Liberman of “showing his racist, ugly face.”

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