Right-wing Israelis march in Tel Aviv

[News_Editor]

Right-wing Israelis march in Tel Aviv

2011-03-03 05:13:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEL AVIV (BNO NEWS) -- One police officer was injured and 16 counter-protesters were detained on Wednesday as far-right Jews marched in a predominantly Arab suburb of Tel Aviv, the Jerusalem Post reported.

About 50 far-right activists marched through the main street of Jaffa to protest "the Islamic Movement's efforts to take over the city." According to police, an officer was wounded by a rock thrown by someone in a group of counter-protesters.

The marchers, led by lawmaker Michael Ben Ari and other far-rightists, arrived in Jaffa on a single bus around 10:15 a.m., where they were met by dozens of riot cops who escorted them down the street. During the march, local Arab businesses closed their doors and went on strike, only opening after the procession had passed. Ben Ari called on "all loyal residents of Jaffa to raise the Israeli flag on their houses," while marchers carried signs saying "Jaffa is Jewish" and chanted "Jaffa is for Jews".

Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said several hundred police from different units were sent to the area to protect the marchers and the locals. Police helicopters circled overhead surveying the scene, as did a police blimp floating above the Old City. Throughout the course of the march counter-protesters would stand off to the sides yelling or booing, but for the most part violent clashes between locals and the marchers weren't reported, according to the newspaper.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai issued a statement earlier this week criticizing "this attempt by right wing figures who come from outside Jaffa to disrupt our co-existence through provocation."

Jaffa is home to around 50,000 residents, of whom over two-thirds are Jews.

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