Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Riots in N. Israeli City Mar Yom Kippur

Jews set upon Arab for driving his car, igniting violence

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 9, 2008 4:16 PM CDT

(Newser) – 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.

Cars are seen with broken windows following clashes between Israeli Arab and Jewish residents of the mixed city of Acre, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.
Cars are seen with broken windows following clashes between Israeli Arab and Jewish residents of the mixed city of Acre, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo / Jalaa Marey,Jini)
An Israeli police officer watches from an overlook at the Damascus Gate before the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in Jerusalem's Old City, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008.e)
An Israeli police officer watches from an overlook at the Damascus Gate before the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in Jerusalem's Old City, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008.e)   (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
An Israeli Arab boy looks through a  broken shop window following clashes between Israeli Arab and Jewish residents of the mixed city of Acre, northern Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.
An Israeli Arab boy looks through a broken shop window following clashes between Israeli Arab and Jewish residents of the mixed city of Acre, northern Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Tomer Neuberg)
Israelis stand next to a broken shop window following clashes between Israeli Arab and Jewish residents of the mixed city of Acre, northern Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.
Israelis stand next to a broken shop window following clashes between Israeli Arab and Jewish residents of the mixed city of Acre, northern Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo / Tomer Neuberg)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Israeli Women Refuse to Move to the Back of the Bus

Beck: Jews 'Drive Me Out of My Mind'

Sacrificial Free Sheep Offered With TV at Israeli Shop

Israeli Rabbi Blesses Spies' 'Honeytrap' Sex

Jewish 'Lost Tribe' Found in Africa


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne