Jaffa tensions worsen, vehicles set ablaze
Five residents of Jaffa arrested on suspicion of setting fire to garbage cans in the wake of the death of an Arab youth during a police chase in the city; two vehicles are also set on fire; ‘Sometimes this place feels like the Wild West.’
Garbage cans and vehicles were set ablaze early Monday morning in Jaffa, as tensions continue to strain following the police shooting of an Arab suspect, which sparked violent protests over police discrimination and use of excessive force.
Five Jaffa residents aged 16-25 were arrested on suspicion of setting fire to garbage cans. In addition, two vehicles were set on fire in the Ajami neighborhood. It is still unclear who perpetrated the arson attack.
"We will not allow harm to public order and damage to public property," the police said in a statement. "The police will act with all means at its disposal in order to bring to justice anyone who violates the order and harms the peace in the city."
Meanwhile, among the visitors who came to console the family of the young man who was killed was the leader of the banned northern branch of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Raed Salah, who condemned the shooting and expressed hope that details will soon be revealed to clarify the circumstances of the incident.
A resident of Jaffa, whose vehicle was torched overnight, said: "I have many good neighbors in Jaffa, but there is not enough law and government here. People drive on sidewalks, there's crazy vandalism, and the police do not do enough and ignore it.
"Even my moderate neighbors, Muslims and Christians, say they are against the riots, but there is a small population that is barbaric and does whatever it pleases. The police must intervene in what is happening, in the rampant real estate offenses and illegal construction, traffic violations and violent incidents. Sometimes," the resident concluded, "this place feels like the Wild West."
Another resident of Jaffa said that since the riots at the young man's funeral on Saturday night, the atmosphere in the city has remained tense.
"We live with the Muslims here in coexistence and partnership, but since the events of the weekend there is an atmosphere of tension. At the time of the funeral, we locked ourselves in the house and afterwards thought it was over, but tonight it happened again and apparently some people are trying to incite the populace on purpose."
Another resident said that the violence and riots don't serve anyone. "It is sad that the cars of innocents were deliberately torched just because their owners were Jews," he lamented.
He then turned to his Arab neighbors urging them to relent in the violence that has plagued the area. "Uou and only you can prevent the next outbreak of violence."
On Saturday night, violence erupted during the funeral of the 22-year-old man who was shot to death during a police chase earlier that day.
During the procession, in which hundreds of people took part, Channel 2 News reporter Gilad Shalmor and photographer Gal Zeitman were beaten and their equipment was destroyed as they were trying to cover the event. They were taken to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in a light condition.
The crowd also blocked the way of drivers who happened by the area, shouting obscenities at them and at nearby police forces.
The funeral procession, which traveled from the deceased's home through the city's mosque and ended at the city's cemetery, rapidly turned into a demonstration staged by the family and local residents, who accused police officers of being trigger happy when their gun was pointed at Arabs.
Also at the end of the funeral, police reported that several of its participants clashed with its forces, set trash cans on fire, blocked roads and even set fire to vehicles in several locations. In total, eight arrests were made, including six minors, for disturbing the peace. One of the detainees was released during the night.
The attorney who represents the family of the deceased insisted, "there was no reason to open fire (on the suspect) because he did not pose any danger to the officers. In my opinion, this was a wrong and unnecessary shooting that led to the loss of human life for no reason."
