Israeli newspaper warns of escalating violence in Israel

Protests and clashes continue between Israeli-Arab citizens and the Israeli security forces for the third day in a raw following the abduction and murder of a Palestinian boy Mohammad Abu Khdeir who was burned to death by Israeli extremists in response to the kidnapping of three Israeli settlers last month.

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper warned of the escalation of violence in Israel and described the developments saying “the country is burning”.

Clashes broke out last night in several Arab towns and villages, including Nazareth, Kafr Kanna, Arraba, Taybeh, Nazareth, Jaffa, Baqa Al-Gharbiya, Al-Tira and Shefa Amr and continue until this moment.

In Nazareth, clashes erupted shortly after midnight after Israeli security forces arrested at least 11 young Palestinians. The city’s residents protested against the practices of Israeli security forces evolved into clashes with them.

In Kafr Kanna, tens of young men demonstrated at the city entrance to protest against the racist Israeli policies and crimes carried out by settlers against the Palestinian people. In Arraba, a huge demonstration travelled through the village streets and later united with another protests coming from Deir Hanna and spread to Al-Muthalath area.

Hundreds of Israeli-Arabs protested at Ableen’s main junction and clashed with Israeli security forces who tried to disperse them using tear gas.

In Shefa Amr, clashes between Palestinians and security forces renewed while an undercover unit tried to run over protesters and kidnapped two teens, including Joseph Noweisiry, secretary of the youth wing of the National Democratic Assembly.

Meanwhile, in Taybeh, protesters closed the city’s main street using burning tyres as Israeli security forces tried to disperse them by spraying them with wastewater. Several people were reported to have been arrested.

Confrontations with security forces erupted in Jaffa with reports of a number of arrests.

In Baqa Al-Gharbiya, protesters closed the main street with burning tyres and clashed with security forces.

Israeli security forces arrested eight young men who took part in protests in Tira, while police announced their intention to arrest more people in the coming days.

In Jaffa, Israeli settlers assaulted a child and tried to enter his home to attack his family, but many teens gathered and deterred them before police units arrived.

Unknown persons set fire to the village police station in Exsal, while in Freidis, dozens protested last night in the town’s main street and raised slogans condemning the execution of Palestinian teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir.

In Jisr Az-Zarqa, dozens of young men protested and set fire to garbage containers and tyres. No arrests or injuries were reported.

In the Negev, Israeli forces arrested 12 teens in Hura, Tel As-Sabi, Lakiya and Arara after clashes with police.

Unidentified men burned tyres in the street leading to the village of Kafr Misr, near the entrance to Ein Dor Kibbutz in the Jezreel Valley. Fire fighters were reportedly called to control the blaze while police diverted traffic.