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Riots in N. Israeli City Mar Yom Kippur
Jews set upon Arab for driving his car, igniting violence
By Jason Farago
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Posted Oct 9, 08 4:16 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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The Israeli city of Acre descended into rioting today after a group of Jewish youths attacked an Arab man who was driving on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. The young men allegedly shouted anti-Muslim epithets at the driver before several younger Arabs came to his defense. As news spread of the altercation, Jewish and Arab gangs took to the streets and destroyed dozens of cars and shops, Haaretz reports.
Yom Kippur is the most solemn holiday of the Jewish calendar, when the faithful ask for forgiveness for sins committed in the previous year. Police used water hoses and mounted officers to attempt to disperse the crowds. They arrested several rioters and continued to clamp down on the city. "We will deal with all the rioters and those who take the law into their own hands with an iron fist," said Acre's chief of police.