This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/18/israeli-arab-killed-in-clashes-with-police-over-home-demolitions
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Israeli police officer and alleged attacker killed in home demolition clashes | Israeli police officer and alleged attacker killed in home demolition clashes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Israeli police officer and an Israeli Arab man have died during clashes over a court-ordered operation to demolish homes in an Arab Israeli village in the south of the country. | |
| Police said the Arab Israeli man rammed his vehicle into a group of officers, killing one of them, before he was shot dead. Local residents said the man lost control of his vehicle after he was shot. | |
| Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a local man sped toward the forces deployed to the Umm al-Hiran village early on Wednesday as they were securing the area ahead of its planned demolition. He said a jeep raced toward the police, killing officer Erez Levi, 34. Police opened fire at the driver, killing Yaakub Abu al-Qiyan, 50, who Israeli officials later said belonged to an Islamist group. The clashes continued, and several police officers were wounded. | Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a local man sped toward the forces deployed to the Umm al-Hiran village early on Wednesday as they were securing the area ahead of its planned demolition. He said a jeep raced toward the police, killing officer Erez Levi, 34. Police opened fire at the driver, killing Yaakub Abu al-Qiyan, 50, who Israeli officials later said belonged to an Islamist group. The clashes continued, and several police officers were wounded. |
| Local residents said Qiyan was trying to leave town and only lost control of his vehicle after police shot at him. Qiyan’s brother, Ahmad, said he was “murdered in cold blood,” and Amnesty International called for an investigation into the reports of excessive force by police. | Local residents said Qiyan was trying to leave town and only lost control of his vehicle after police shot at him. Qiyan’s brother, Ahmad, said he was “murdered in cold blood,” and Amnesty International called for an investigation into the reports of excessive force by police. |
| “The police are light on the trigger when it comes to Arab citizens,” the Arab advocacy group Adalah said in a statement in which it accused the police of a “culture of lying”. | “The police are light on the trigger when it comes to Arab citizens,” the Arab advocacy group Adalah said in a statement in which it accused the police of a “culture of lying”. |
| Palestinians have carried out a number of attacks using vehicles against Israelis over the past year and a half, and earlier this month a Palestinian truck driver rammed into a group of Israeli soldiers, killing four. | Palestinians have carried out a number of attacks using vehicles against Israelis over the past year and a half, and earlier this month a Palestinian truck driver rammed into a group of Israeli soldiers, killing four. |
| Ayman Odeh, a politician and head of the Arab Joint List in the Israeli parliament, was wounded in the clashes on Wednesday, along with several others. Odeh was taken to a hospital with blood streaming down his forehead. | Ayman Odeh, a politician and head of the Arab Joint List in the Israeli parliament, was wounded in the clashes on Wednesday, along with several others. Odeh was taken to a hospital with blood streaming down his forehead. |
| He told Israel’s Army Radio that he was shot by overzealous officers who were deployed after extensive negotiations to delay the demolition broke down. | He told Israel’s Army Radio that he was shot by overzealous officers who were deployed after extensive negotiations to delay the demolition broke down. |
| “This is a direct order from [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who wants to enflame the area,” he said. “This is a disgrace.” | “This is a direct order from [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who wants to enflame the area,” he said. “This is a disgrace.” |
| The public security minister, Gilad Erdan, accused Odeh of stirring up the conflict and lying about what happened. He said he hoped the incident would not spark further divisions between Jews and Arabs in Israel but said that if it happened politicians such as Odeh bore responsibility. | The public security minister, Gilad Erdan, accused Odeh of stirring up the conflict and lying about what happened. He said he hoped the incident would not spark further divisions between Jews and Arabs in Israel but said that if it happened politicians such as Odeh bore responsibility. |
| “He was there to enflame tensions and incite to violence,” Erdan told Army Radio. “He contributed to a very serious event that may also have criminal implications for him.” | “He was there to enflame tensions and incite to violence,” Erdan told Army Radio. “He contributed to a very serious event that may also have criminal implications for him.” |
| Arabs make up a fifth of Israel’s population. They enjoy full citizenship but frequently face unfair treatment in areas such as jobs and housing. | Arabs make up a fifth of Israel’s population. They enjoy full citizenship but frequently face unfair treatment in areas such as jobs and housing. |
| The Israeli government recently vowed to crack down harder on illegal Arab construction following criticism from Jewish settlers, who face a court-ordered evacuation of an illegally built outpost in the West Bank. | The Israeli government recently vowed to crack down harder on illegal Arab construction following criticism from Jewish settlers, who face a court-ordered evacuation of an illegally built outpost in the West Bank. |
| Last week, authorities demolished 11 homes in the central city of Kalansua, sparking a general strike among Israeli Arabs, who say the problem stems from longstanding barriers to acquiring proper permits put in place by the state. | Last week, authorities demolished 11 homes in the central city of Kalansua, sparking a general strike among Israeli Arabs, who say the problem stems from longstanding barriers to acquiring proper permits put in place by the state. |
| Wednesday’s evacuation plans involve a long-running dispute between Israel and the formerly nomadic Bedouins of Umm al-Hiran village. Israel moved part of a Bedouin clan to the state-owned land 60 years ago but now wishes to relocate residents to a government-designated Bedouin township. | Wednesday’s evacuation plans involve a long-running dispute between Israel and the formerly nomadic Bedouins of Umm al-Hiran village. Israel moved part of a Bedouin clan to the state-owned land 60 years ago but now wishes to relocate residents to a government-designated Bedouin township. |
| An adjacent part of the village slated for future demolition is zoned for a new development catering to religious Jewish families with ties to the West Bank settlement movement. | An adjacent part of the village slated for future demolition is zoned for a new development catering to religious Jewish families with ties to the West Bank settlement movement. |
| Arab Israelis have risen to prominence in sports, politics, entertainment and the judiciary. But Jewish Israelis have long viewed the community with suspicion, as many of Israel’s Arabs closely identify with Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. | Arab Israelis have risen to prominence in sports, politics, entertainment and the judiciary. But Jewish Israelis have long viewed the community with suspicion, as many of Israel’s Arabs closely identify with Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. |
| The Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, said the housing dispute must be resolved and urged all sides to refrain from letting the incident spiral into further conflict. | The Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, said the housing dispute must be resolved and urged all sides to refrain from letting the incident spiral into further conflict. |
| “I turn to all leaders across Israel, particularly in the Arab community, and say this is a stressful and difficult time, and we must all work together and do everything in our power to bring calm, in words and in actions,” he said. “We must find a solution and a plan to deal with this burning national, social and civic issue before it is too late.” | “I turn to all leaders across Israel, particularly in the Arab community, and say this is a stressful and difficult time, and we must all work together and do everything in our power to bring calm, in words and in actions,” he said. “We must find a solution and a plan to deal with this burning national, social and civic issue before it is too late.” |