BICOM

Riots in the southern Bedouin city of Rahat continued last night following the deaths of two local residents in separate clashes with police during the past week.

21-year-old Sami Jehar was killed last Wednesday night during a riot after police officers came to execute an arrest warrant as part of a drugs investigation. Police say that rocks were hurled at them and so they fired into the air in response, but that Jehar was killed in the melee. The Justice Ministry has since opened a probe into the incident.

Tensions were further exacerbated at Jehar’s funeral on Sunday. A police van in the vicinity of the funeral was blocked by cars and attacked from all directions. Police officers used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the rioters, but 45-year-old Sami Ziadna died in the incident. The local hospital in Beer Sheva where he was pronounced dead said that Ziadna’s death appeared to be the result of a pre-existing heart condition. However, Rahat locals have blamed police aggression.

Yesterday, hundreds of local youths clashed with police during the day and a general strike of local businesses and schools took place. The violence increased into the evening with a pipe bomb thrown at the police, although no injuries were reported. Israel Police chief Yohanan Danino called for reinforcements to the area and appealed to the Rahat Mayor “to restore the quiet and to maintain restraint,” adding, “I also ask the police officers to maintain restraint.”

Danino said that, “I understand the pain of the families of the deceased and send my condolences, but in the same breath I say that law and order must be kept.” He pledged, “I will not allow police officers or citizens to be hurt.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin telephoned the Rahat Mayor and expressed condolences to the Bedouin community and the families of Jehar and Ziadna. Rivlin also emphasised the need to restore calm, highlighting, “it is important that we do that together.”