24 june 2015
Jordanian article calling the attacks against Israelis heroic
In response to Jordanian Ad- Dustour article praising 'heroic' attacks against civiliains, Israeli embassy posts message expressing its disgust at the incitement to violence.
Jordanian newspapers quoted a message Wednesday from the Israeli embassy in Amman, in which it asked the Hashemite Kingdom's media to refrain from praising attacks against Israelis.
The message referred to an article in Jordanian newspaper Ad-Dustour entitled "We have to rely on the heroic acts in the West Bank and Jerusalem".
The article praised the recent attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank and the Israeli embassy's message forcefully came out against the author, claiming that he is increasing the tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The heading of the Embassy's message argued that it amounted to "incitement to kill Israelis in a Jordanian newspaper."
The message said that "The Israeli Embassy expresses its disgust and its absolute opposition to such shameful words that call to harm innocent civilians. This is incitement to killing and violence in every meaning of the word."
The message also stated that "we expect the publication of such barbaric articles, that are likely to cause damage and injury to civilians and to increase tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians, to cease."
It has been a while since the Israeli embassy in Jordan has tried to print messages in Jordanian newspapers, and so far the Kingdom's media has refused to publish them. Only after the insistence of embassy spokesman Gilad Nol, was it ultimately decided to refer to Israel's message.
The Foreign Ministry said in response that "the Israeli embassy in Jordan follows the Jordanian media and responds through their Facebook page regarding every publication containing anti-Semitism or incitement to terror.
"This is a praiseworthy and important activity. This is what was done this time and we are pleased that the Jordanian media chose to report the the embassy's reaction."
In response to Jordanian Ad- Dustour article praising 'heroic' attacks against civiliains, Israeli embassy posts message expressing its disgust at the incitement to violence.
Jordanian newspapers quoted a message Wednesday from the Israeli embassy in Amman, in which it asked the Hashemite Kingdom's media to refrain from praising attacks against Israelis.
The message referred to an article in Jordanian newspaper Ad-Dustour entitled "We have to rely on the heroic acts in the West Bank and Jerusalem".
The article praised the recent attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank and the Israeli embassy's message forcefully came out against the author, claiming that he is increasing the tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The heading of the Embassy's message argued that it amounted to "incitement to kill Israelis in a Jordanian newspaper."
The message said that "The Israeli Embassy expresses its disgust and its absolute opposition to such shameful words that call to harm innocent civilians. This is incitement to killing and violence in every meaning of the word."
The message also stated that "we expect the publication of such barbaric articles, that are likely to cause damage and injury to civilians and to increase tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians, to cease."
It has been a while since the Israeli embassy in Jordan has tried to print messages in Jordanian newspapers, and so far the Kingdom's media has refused to publish them. Only after the insistence of embassy spokesman Gilad Nol, was it ultimately decided to refer to Israel's message.
The Foreign Ministry said in response that "the Israeli embassy in Jordan follows the Jordanian media and responds through their Facebook page regarding every publication containing anti-Semitism or incitement to terror.
"This is a praiseworthy and important activity. This is what was done this time and we are pleased that the Jordanian media chose to report the the embassy's reaction."
Despite on-going protests by Ethiopian-Israelis, proposals by MKs Livni, Khenin rejected as hypocritical; Activist: 'Elected officials disconnected from reality.'
Two proposals to create a parliamentary commission of inquiry to examine allegations of discrimination, racism and violence against Israel's Ethiopian community were rejected in a Knesset meeting Wednesday, despite a continuing protest movement that erupted nearly two months ago after a video surfaced documenting a violent encounter between a police officer and an Ethiopian soldier in uniform.
The proposals were submitted by former justice minister Tzipi Livni and MK Dov Khenin of the Joint Arab List. The first was defeated in a 48-46 vote, the second in a 48-44 vote.
Yaiyo Avraham, an activist in the Ethiopian community, told Ynet that, "The Knesset's decision proves once again the disconnect between elected officials and reality. The decision means that discrimination and institutional racism against Ethiopians will continue." Before the votes, Livni addressed the Knesset saying, "Whoever votes no will become a participant in discrimination. It's time the Ethiopian community stopped being invisible citizens. More than trying to find failures and lay blame, it (the proposal) is an attempt to find solutions."
Those voting against the proposals accused both Livni and Khenin of hypocrisy, saying that Khenin would rather see Ethiopians in Ethiopia and that Livni did nothing to change the situation during her time as justice minister. Hundreds of Israeli Ethiopians returned to the streets of Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon to continue their protest against discrimination after the attorney-general decided not to prosecute a police officer documented beating an Ethiopian soldier.
Clashes broke out at the protest at Rabin Square and dozens were arrested. Thousands attended the first protest organized by the movement in Tel Aviv several weeks ago, when full-blown riots wounded dozens.
Two proposals to create a parliamentary commission of inquiry to examine allegations of discrimination, racism and violence against Israel's Ethiopian community were rejected in a Knesset meeting Wednesday, despite a continuing protest movement that erupted nearly two months ago after a video surfaced documenting a violent encounter between a police officer and an Ethiopian soldier in uniform.
The proposals were submitted by former justice minister Tzipi Livni and MK Dov Khenin of the Joint Arab List. The first was defeated in a 48-46 vote, the second in a 48-44 vote.
Yaiyo Avraham, an activist in the Ethiopian community, told Ynet that, "The Knesset's decision proves once again the disconnect between elected officials and reality. The decision means that discrimination and institutional racism against Ethiopians will continue." Before the votes, Livni addressed the Knesset saying, "Whoever votes no will become a participant in discrimination. It's time the Ethiopian community stopped being invisible citizens. More than trying to find failures and lay blame, it (the proposal) is an attempt to find solutions."
Those voting against the proposals accused both Livni and Khenin of hypocrisy, saying that Khenin would rather see Ethiopians in Ethiopia and that Livni did nothing to change the situation during her time as justice minister. Hundreds of Israeli Ethiopians returned to the streets of Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon to continue their protest against discrimination after the attorney-general decided not to prosecute a police officer documented beating an Ethiopian soldier.
Clashes broke out at the protest at Rabin Square and dozens were arrested. Thousands attended the first protest organized by the movement in Tel Aviv several weeks ago, when full-blown riots wounded dozens.
Deputy Interior Minister Yaron Mazuz
Furor erupts in the Knesset following controversial remarks, leading to back and forth between Arab, other left-wing MKs and coalition members.
Deputy Interior Minister Yaron Mazuz (Likud) caused an uproar in the Knesset on Wednesday when told Arab MK Hanin Zoabi that the State of Israel was "doing you a favor in giving you ID cards" during a discussion on the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law.
Mayhem broke out following the controversial remarks, with MK Michal Rozin (Meretz) walking up to the podium with her ID card, while others demanded Mazuz to apologize.
Mazuz's refused to apologize for his remarks and said: "Anyone who supports terrorism won't be here."
MK Hanin Zoabi from the Joint Arab List demanded he apologize, saying "We won't allow you to continue to speak," while other MKs called out "Shame on you!"
But Mazuz was unfazed and turned to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstien, telling him "Send them out, (they're) insolent."
The session then broke out into yelling and furor, bringing the discussion to a halt.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then took to the podium, saying: "I want to say two things: the right to be elected and to elect is a universal right - that is not the discussion. I am talking about the issue of hypocrisy. I can tell the difference between the two things, you have the right to say these things, and the right is given, and we will protect that right, I will protect it. But we don’t have to agree with the hypocrisy. I didn’t hear condemnations from the MKs here on the real war crimes happening in Syria, and Yemen. I didn’t hear a word on these issues, all I hear is false preaching against IDF soldiers."
"All citizens of Israel, Jews and non-Jews, have a right to vote and be elected, however every citizen has the duty to obey the laws of the land. No one has the right to raise false accusations of war crimes against IDF soldiers who protect all of us," he added.
Sliman responded to Netanyahu, saying, "Those who expected the prime minister to defend our right to do our jobs must have been dreaming. The prime minister is justifying Yaron Mazuz's campaign of indictment. We are being slandered. A government built on rampant incitement, only such a government can pass a law that collectively disinherits the right to family life from the Palestinians. Those talking about terrorism should see that they are using terrorism. No one is doing me a favor by giving me an ID card."
Likud MK Oren Hazan yelled at her: "It's shameful that you are here," while Culture Minister Miri Regev joined in, calling out from her seat: "Anyone who gets on a flotilla should turn in their ID card." The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law is a temporary provision, and was approved by the Knesset on July 31, 2003. It authorizes the government to extend the provision, which it does every year, while adding amendments.
The Israeli government used this provision to stop granting citizenship under the framework of family unifications to residents of Gaza and the West Bank who have relatives living within the Green Line. The law gives the interior minister and the commander of IDF forces in the West Bank the authority to grant the status of permanent resident in special circumstances.
MK Suliman's proposed legislation, which meant to appeal the extension of the citizenship law, was rejected by a majority of 55 against, compared to 18 in favor, and two abstained. A smiliar proposal by Meretz leader Zehava Galon was also rejected, with 54 against, 17 for, and two abstained.
A large portion of the opposition was not present in the plenum at the time of the vote, while some of the MKs, including Opposition Chairman Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union), chose not to participate in the vote even though he was present. Zionist Union MKs Omer Bar-Lev and Itzik Shmuly chose to abstain.
In response to the Zionist Union MKs' decision not to vote, Meretz leader Galon announced her party would not attend opposition meetings until further notice.
Zionist Union co-leader Tzipi Livni spoke after the contentious vote, saying, "I entered the plenum to vote against the proposal to cancel the citizenship law, a position which in this case happens to be the same as the government's position. And then a deputy minister gets up to the podium and announces he will revoke the citizenship of anyone who acts or talks against the state, with each word becoming more and more inciting, bad, and meant to shut people up. He is not talking on his own behalf, but on the behalf of the government.
"The prime minister indicates that he too wants to talk, and for a moment I am hoping to see a responsible prime minister who comes to calm down the situation, one that truly regrets his comments about the Arabs who come in droves to the polls, one who understands things are getting out of control. Instead we got a prime minister who upgrades his comment. Now it's Arabs and hypocrites who are going to the polls in droves. You might have won the elections, but you won't win over us," she said.
Furor erupts in the Knesset following controversial remarks, leading to back and forth between Arab, other left-wing MKs and coalition members.
Deputy Interior Minister Yaron Mazuz (Likud) caused an uproar in the Knesset on Wednesday when told Arab MK Hanin Zoabi that the State of Israel was "doing you a favor in giving you ID cards" during a discussion on the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law.
Mayhem broke out following the controversial remarks, with MK Michal Rozin (Meretz) walking up to the podium with her ID card, while others demanded Mazuz to apologize.
Mazuz's refused to apologize for his remarks and said: "Anyone who supports terrorism won't be here."
MK Hanin Zoabi from the Joint Arab List demanded he apologize, saying "We won't allow you to continue to speak," while other MKs called out "Shame on you!"
But Mazuz was unfazed and turned to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstien, telling him "Send them out, (they're) insolent."
The session then broke out into yelling and furor, bringing the discussion to a halt.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then took to the podium, saying: "I want to say two things: the right to be elected and to elect is a universal right - that is not the discussion. I am talking about the issue of hypocrisy. I can tell the difference between the two things, you have the right to say these things, and the right is given, and we will protect that right, I will protect it. But we don’t have to agree with the hypocrisy. I didn’t hear condemnations from the MKs here on the real war crimes happening in Syria, and Yemen. I didn’t hear a word on these issues, all I hear is false preaching against IDF soldiers."
"All citizens of Israel, Jews and non-Jews, have a right to vote and be elected, however every citizen has the duty to obey the laws of the land. No one has the right to raise false accusations of war crimes against IDF soldiers who protect all of us," he added.
Sliman responded to Netanyahu, saying, "Those who expected the prime minister to defend our right to do our jobs must have been dreaming. The prime minister is justifying Yaron Mazuz's campaign of indictment. We are being slandered. A government built on rampant incitement, only such a government can pass a law that collectively disinherits the right to family life from the Palestinians. Those talking about terrorism should see that they are using terrorism. No one is doing me a favor by giving me an ID card."
Likud MK Oren Hazan yelled at her: "It's shameful that you are here," while Culture Minister Miri Regev joined in, calling out from her seat: "Anyone who gets on a flotilla should turn in their ID card." The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law is a temporary provision, and was approved by the Knesset on July 31, 2003. It authorizes the government to extend the provision, which it does every year, while adding amendments.
The Israeli government used this provision to stop granting citizenship under the framework of family unifications to residents of Gaza and the West Bank who have relatives living within the Green Line. The law gives the interior minister and the commander of IDF forces in the West Bank the authority to grant the status of permanent resident in special circumstances.
MK Suliman's proposed legislation, which meant to appeal the extension of the citizenship law, was rejected by a majority of 55 against, compared to 18 in favor, and two abstained. A smiliar proposal by Meretz leader Zehava Galon was also rejected, with 54 against, 17 for, and two abstained.
A large portion of the opposition was not present in the plenum at the time of the vote, while some of the MKs, including Opposition Chairman Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union), chose not to participate in the vote even though he was present. Zionist Union MKs Omer Bar-Lev and Itzik Shmuly chose to abstain.
In response to the Zionist Union MKs' decision not to vote, Meretz leader Galon announced her party would not attend opposition meetings until further notice.
Zionist Union co-leader Tzipi Livni spoke after the contentious vote, saying, "I entered the plenum to vote against the proposal to cancel the citizenship law, a position which in this case happens to be the same as the government's position. And then a deputy minister gets up to the podium and announces he will revoke the citizenship of anyone who acts or talks against the state, with each word becoming more and more inciting, bad, and meant to shut people up. He is not talking on his own behalf, but on the behalf of the government.
"The prime minister indicates that he too wants to talk, and for a moment I am hoping to see a responsible prime minister who comes to calm down the situation, one that truly regrets his comments about the Arabs who come in droves to the polls, one who understands things are getting out of control. Instead we got a prime minister who upgrades his comment. Now it's Arabs and hypocrites who are going to the polls in droves. You might have won the elections, but you won't win over us," she said.
Army investigators looking into the possibility a soldier may have provided angry mob with information on route of military ambulance transporting wounded Syrians.
An initial IDF investigation into a brutal mob attack on a military ambulance transporting wounded Syrian rebels found that the ambulance was blocked by rocks on the road, and that it was attacked by Druze rioters on ATVs.
Overnight Tuesday, the IDF arrested ten Druze suspected of being involved in the Monday night incident and in a similar incident in the early hours of Monday in Hurfeish.
The initial investigation into the second incident, in which one of the wounded rebels was killed, found that the soldiers in the ambulance, an army doctor and a Druze NCO, defended the wounded Syrians with their bodies, and seemed to have "prevented a massacre."
When faced with the Druze mob hurling stones and the rocks blocking the road, the soldiers in the ambulance decided to drive to the nearby moshav Neve Ativ, fearing more Druze rioters were waiting for them near the Druze village of Ein Qiniyye.
Both the medical team and the military police accompanying the ambulance reported the incident to the head of the division.
When the ambulance arrived in Neve Ativ, it was joined by at least ten IDF officers and fighters, among them the division's head of operations with his team, the division's chief medical officer and a Golani patrol force that was nearby.
For a reason that remains unclear, the Neve Ativ entry gate was not closed behind the ambulance, allowing some 100 rioters to enter the moshav.
The mob demanded the two Syrian wounded to be given to them, while the IDF troops protected them. The troops fired into the air, but decided not to fire at protesters or at main instigators.
Investigators are also examining the possibility a soldier might have leaked to the Druze rioters the ambulance's planned route.
Meanwhile, the two soldiers who were wounded in the attack was released from the hospital on Tuesday. The second wounded Syrian, who suffered gunshot wounds to his lower body in fighting in Syria, and beaten in his upper body and head by the mob, is in serious but stable condition.
The Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, where he is hospitalized under increased security, said he suffered only light injuries in the mob attack.
The hospital said Syrian wounded hospitalized in Israel have always been under security, but so far the security guards' job was to ensure the wounded did not try to leave the hospital, rather than protect them from outside threats.
In response to the incident, the IDF said it would not stop treating wounded Syrians, and plans to increase the security around the
ambulance transports. A decision was made Tuesday to have a military police car escort every ambulance trip. The police, meanwhile, said they were in full contact and cooperation with the IDF and would provide any help needed to secure the evacuations. An IDF spokesman went on to clarify that the wounded Syrians that were being treated in Israel do not belong Jabhat al-Nusra, an Islamist organization fighting against the regime of President Bashar Assad.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot held a meeting with the head of the Northern Command, Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, condemning the attack on the soldiers and wounded Syrians; "It is unacceptable that IDF soldiers and the wounded would be attacked by Israeli citizens."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented on the serious incident, and promised that "We will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands. We will not allow anyone to interfere with IDF soldiers and their duties. We will find those responsible and bring them to justice."
Tuesday saw Druze leaders from all over the country hold an emergency session, which led to a unanimous condemnation of the attack.
The spiritual leader of the community, Sheikh Moafaq Tarif said: "This is a serious act conducted by a few individuals, who do not represent the community, and we will not accept these acts."
During the meeting it was decided to socially boycott anyone who takes part in such acts, and it seems like the decision has already yielded results: A protest which was meant to take place outside a hospital treating wounded Syrians was cancelled due to fear of social boycotts on the participants.
With that said, there are still many Druze in the Golan who represent a more divided viewpoint. Patan Afif, a resident of Majdal Shams – from which the mob came - condemned the attack, but clarified that "What is happening should not be happening, but this is what the state cooked up. Why are they treating Jabhat al-Nusra, who kill our relatives?"
She went on to say that while visiting a hospital she met a wounded Syrian who was being treated in Israel, who told her that he was fighting to "kill all the Christians and then all the Druze."
An initial IDF investigation into a brutal mob attack on a military ambulance transporting wounded Syrian rebels found that the ambulance was blocked by rocks on the road, and that it was attacked by Druze rioters on ATVs.
Overnight Tuesday, the IDF arrested ten Druze suspected of being involved in the Monday night incident and in a similar incident in the early hours of Monday in Hurfeish.
The initial investigation into the second incident, in which one of the wounded rebels was killed, found that the soldiers in the ambulance, an army doctor and a Druze NCO, defended the wounded Syrians with their bodies, and seemed to have "prevented a massacre."
When faced with the Druze mob hurling stones and the rocks blocking the road, the soldiers in the ambulance decided to drive to the nearby moshav Neve Ativ, fearing more Druze rioters were waiting for them near the Druze village of Ein Qiniyye.
Both the medical team and the military police accompanying the ambulance reported the incident to the head of the division.
When the ambulance arrived in Neve Ativ, it was joined by at least ten IDF officers and fighters, among them the division's head of operations with his team, the division's chief medical officer and a Golani patrol force that was nearby.
For a reason that remains unclear, the Neve Ativ entry gate was not closed behind the ambulance, allowing some 100 rioters to enter the moshav.
The mob demanded the two Syrian wounded to be given to them, while the IDF troops protected them. The troops fired into the air, but decided not to fire at protesters or at main instigators.
Investigators are also examining the possibility a soldier might have leaked to the Druze rioters the ambulance's planned route.
Meanwhile, the two soldiers who were wounded in the attack was released from the hospital on Tuesday. The second wounded Syrian, who suffered gunshot wounds to his lower body in fighting in Syria, and beaten in his upper body and head by the mob, is in serious but stable condition.
The Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, where he is hospitalized under increased security, said he suffered only light injuries in the mob attack.
The hospital said Syrian wounded hospitalized in Israel have always been under security, but so far the security guards' job was to ensure the wounded did not try to leave the hospital, rather than protect them from outside threats.
In response to the incident, the IDF said it would not stop treating wounded Syrians, and plans to increase the security around the
ambulance transports. A decision was made Tuesday to have a military police car escort every ambulance trip. The police, meanwhile, said they were in full contact and cooperation with the IDF and would provide any help needed to secure the evacuations. An IDF spokesman went on to clarify that the wounded Syrians that were being treated in Israel do not belong Jabhat al-Nusra, an Islamist organization fighting against the regime of President Bashar Assad.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot held a meeting with the head of the Northern Command, Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, condemning the attack on the soldiers and wounded Syrians; "It is unacceptable that IDF soldiers and the wounded would be attacked by Israeli citizens."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented on the serious incident, and promised that "We will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands. We will not allow anyone to interfere with IDF soldiers and their duties. We will find those responsible and bring them to justice."
Tuesday saw Druze leaders from all over the country hold an emergency session, which led to a unanimous condemnation of the attack.
The spiritual leader of the community, Sheikh Moafaq Tarif said: "This is a serious act conducted by a few individuals, who do not represent the community, and we will not accept these acts."
During the meeting it was decided to socially boycott anyone who takes part in such acts, and it seems like the decision has already yielded results: A protest which was meant to take place outside a hospital treating wounded Syrians was cancelled due to fear of social boycotts on the participants.
With that said, there are still many Druze in the Golan who represent a more divided viewpoint. Patan Afif, a resident of Majdal Shams – from which the mob came - condemned the attack, but clarified that "What is happening should not be happening, but this is what the state cooked up. Why are they treating Jabhat al-Nusra, who kill our relatives?"
She went on to say that while visiting a hospital she met a wounded Syrian who was being treated in Israel, who told her that he was fighting to "kill all the Christians and then all the Druze."
Police raids Druze villages in Galilee, Golan overnight in search for perpetrators of two attacks on IDF ambulances taking wounded Syrian rebels for treatment in Israel, which resulted in death of one rebel.
Police said Wednesday it arrested ten people overnight who are suspected of involvement in two attacks earlier this week on military ambulances transporting wounded from Syria for treatment in Israel.
Police also searched the suspects' homes in Druze villages in the Galilee and the Golan Heights.
Inflamed by media reports suggesting some of the hundreds of wounded Syrians admitted to Israel for medical care belong to jihadi rebel groups fighting the Druze in Syria, the crowds of Druze blocked two army ambulances for inspection.
Early Monday morning, an IDF ambulance transporting wounded Syrians was attacked in the Druze local council of Hurfeish. One of the rioters was run over by the ambulance and taken to a Nahariya hospital for treatment.
Late Monday night, another ambulance was attacked in Majdal Shams. The ambulance managed to flee the lynch mob but attacked again in Neve Ativ, where one of the wounded Syrian rebels it was transporting was killed, while the other was critically wounded. An IDF doctor and another soldier were lightly wounded in the attack.
The suspects will be brought for a remand extension on Wednesday at the Nazareth Magistrate's Court. The Druze have protested Israel's continued treatment of wounded Syrian rebels, while pro-Assad Druze villages in Syria are in danger of being attacked by rebel forces, including jihadists from the al-Nusra Front.
Radical Islamists see the Druze, whose religion is an offshoot of Islam, as apostates to be combated. Druze in Syria and many in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967, have long been loyal to President Bashar Assad.
Police increased security over the past few weeks in a hospital in Nahariya where wounded Syrians are being treated, out of fear they will be targeted by Israeli Druze.
Druze leaders condemned the attack at the end of an emergency meeting on Tuesday and urged calm. "This is a criminal act, which completely contradicts the values of the Druze community that is known for generations for its aid and help to others, even when to its enemies. Any act of protest must be done within the limitations of the law. Those involved must be brought to justice," they said in a statement.
The Druze are an important minority in Israel and have influence within the government and the military.
Netanyahu's office said in a statement he would convene Druze leaders on Wednesday with a call "to calm tensions and to say to every Druze citizen of Israel to respect soldiers, law and order and not to take the law into their own hands".
Israel has also signaled it would intervene to prevent a massacre of Syrian Druze, with local media suggesting it might offer refugees from the community safe haven on the Golan.
Police said Wednesday it arrested ten people overnight who are suspected of involvement in two attacks earlier this week on military ambulances transporting wounded from Syria for treatment in Israel.
Police also searched the suspects' homes in Druze villages in the Galilee and the Golan Heights.
Inflamed by media reports suggesting some of the hundreds of wounded Syrians admitted to Israel for medical care belong to jihadi rebel groups fighting the Druze in Syria, the crowds of Druze blocked two army ambulances for inspection.
Early Monday morning, an IDF ambulance transporting wounded Syrians was attacked in the Druze local council of Hurfeish. One of the rioters was run over by the ambulance and taken to a Nahariya hospital for treatment.
Late Monday night, another ambulance was attacked in Majdal Shams. The ambulance managed to flee the lynch mob but attacked again in Neve Ativ, where one of the wounded Syrian rebels it was transporting was killed, while the other was critically wounded. An IDF doctor and another soldier were lightly wounded in the attack.
The suspects will be brought for a remand extension on Wednesday at the Nazareth Magistrate's Court. The Druze have protested Israel's continued treatment of wounded Syrian rebels, while pro-Assad Druze villages in Syria are in danger of being attacked by rebel forces, including jihadists from the al-Nusra Front.
Radical Islamists see the Druze, whose religion is an offshoot of Islam, as apostates to be combated. Druze in Syria and many in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967, have long been loyal to President Bashar Assad.
Police increased security over the past few weeks in a hospital in Nahariya where wounded Syrians are being treated, out of fear they will be targeted by Israeli Druze.
Druze leaders condemned the attack at the end of an emergency meeting on Tuesday and urged calm. "This is a criminal act, which completely contradicts the values of the Druze community that is known for generations for its aid and help to others, even when to its enemies. Any act of protest must be done within the limitations of the law. Those involved must be brought to justice," they said in a statement.
The Druze are an important minority in Israel and have influence within the government and the military.
Netanyahu's office said in a statement he would convene Druze leaders on Wednesday with a call "to calm tensions and to say to every Druze citizen of Israel to respect soldiers, law and order and not to take the law into their own hands".
Israel has also signaled it would intervene to prevent a massacre of Syrian Druze, with local media suggesting it might offer refugees from the community safe haven on the Golan.
23 june 2015
Ynet has learned that IDF directed forces transporting wounded Syrians not to enter Druze villages, hours before deadly attack.
The IDF on Monday distributed a directive to avoid transporting wounded Syrians through Druze villages, Ynet has learned – hours before an attack that night on an IDF ambulance in which two soldiers were wounded and one Syrian rebel was killed by an angry mob of Druze.
The IDF ambulance was attacked Monday night by Druze who claim that Israel is helping members of the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliated group who recently killed some 20 Syrian Druze. Tensions have been high in the north since many of Israel's Druze have family who are at risk in Syria.
Leaders of Israel's Druze community in the north released a statement Tuesday afternoon, condemning the attack.
"This was a criminal act that completely goes against the values of the Druze community. Any protest activities have to be within the boundaries of the law," they said in the statement. "Those involved in the incident must be brought to justice." The incident also drew a sharp response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who demanded that community leaders call for calm while insisting that those responsible would be captured and brought to justice.
Druze community leaders also said in the statement that such violent acts are likely to harm Syria's Druze despite the intent of helping them. They also noted however, that Syrian rebels in Israeli hospitals declared in media interviews that they would attack the Druze upon their return to Syria. "They (Israel) are providing fertile ground for criminal and uncivilized acts." In light of developing events within the Druze community, police security has been increased in a Nahariya hospital over the last few weeks. A small Druze protest on the site was dispersed by police recently. Participants demanded that Israel cease treating Syrian rebels.
On Monday morning, a military ambulance carrying wounded Syrians was pelted with stones while leaving the Druze town of Hurfeish – a town that is relatively deep inside Israeli territory in the upper Galilee and whose residents, unlike those of Majdal Shams, serve in the IDF.
The incident led officials to decide that wounded Syrians won't be transported through Druze villages anymore.
But the decision was not implemented in time. The ambulance passing through Majdal Shams did so because the wounded had been rapidly evacuated from Mount Hermon and the only available road skirted the Druze town.
Around 150 Druze residents ambushed the ambulance, throwing stones as it attempted to escape – and eventually overtaking it and attacking its wounded passengers.
One question that remains unanswered is whether the crowds in Majdal Shams and Hurfeish had any advance knowledge about the ambulances' routes and the identities of the passengers. The incident in Hurfeish occurred around 4 AM.
A military source told Ynet that the soldiers who were under attack did not serve in combat roles and had no means for dispersing riots.
The IDF has denied claims that it assists Nusra Front. Senior IDF officials recently claimed that certain parties have been working to spread lies among the Druze in the north.
Pro-Assad TV channels in Syria reporteding on the Monday evening attack called the Druze protesters "our heroic countrymen."
A report on the Syrian government's official news agency SANA said that "two terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra were killed after the heroes of the occupied Golan blocked and attacked a Zionist ambulance transporting (the wounded) to one of the Israeli enemy's hospitals for treatment."
The IDF on Monday distributed a directive to avoid transporting wounded Syrians through Druze villages, Ynet has learned – hours before an attack that night on an IDF ambulance in which two soldiers were wounded and one Syrian rebel was killed by an angry mob of Druze.
The IDF ambulance was attacked Monday night by Druze who claim that Israel is helping members of the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliated group who recently killed some 20 Syrian Druze. Tensions have been high in the north since many of Israel's Druze have family who are at risk in Syria.
Leaders of Israel's Druze community in the north released a statement Tuesday afternoon, condemning the attack.
"This was a criminal act that completely goes against the values of the Druze community. Any protest activities have to be within the boundaries of the law," they said in the statement. "Those involved in the incident must be brought to justice." The incident also drew a sharp response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who demanded that community leaders call for calm while insisting that those responsible would be captured and brought to justice.
Druze community leaders also said in the statement that such violent acts are likely to harm Syria's Druze despite the intent of helping them. They also noted however, that Syrian rebels in Israeli hospitals declared in media interviews that they would attack the Druze upon their return to Syria. "They (Israel) are providing fertile ground for criminal and uncivilized acts." In light of developing events within the Druze community, police security has been increased in a Nahariya hospital over the last few weeks. A small Druze protest on the site was dispersed by police recently. Participants demanded that Israel cease treating Syrian rebels.
On Monday morning, a military ambulance carrying wounded Syrians was pelted with stones while leaving the Druze town of Hurfeish – a town that is relatively deep inside Israeli territory in the upper Galilee and whose residents, unlike those of Majdal Shams, serve in the IDF.
The incident led officials to decide that wounded Syrians won't be transported through Druze villages anymore.
But the decision was not implemented in time. The ambulance passing through Majdal Shams did so because the wounded had been rapidly evacuated from Mount Hermon and the only available road skirted the Druze town.
Around 150 Druze residents ambushed the ambulance, throwing stones as it attempted to escape – and eventually overtaking it and attacking its wounded passengers.
One question that remains unanswered is whether the crowds in Majdal Shams and Hurfeish had any advance knowledge about the ambulances' routes and the identities of the passengers. The incident in Hurfeish occurred around 4 AM.
A military source told Ynet that the soldiers who were under attack did not serve in combat roles and had no means for dispersing riots.
The IDF has denied claims that it assists Nusra Front. Senior IDF officials recently claimed that certain parties have been working to spread lies among the Druze in the north.
Pro-Assad TV channels in Syria reporteding on the Monday evening attack called the Druze protesters "our heroic countrymen."
A report on the Syrian government's official news agency SANA said that "two terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra were killed after the heroes of the occupied Golan blocked and attacked a Zionist ambulance transporting (the wounded) to one of the Israeli enemy's hospitals for treatment."
Tens of Israeli, Saudi Officers Killed in Yemen Missile Attacks
Some 20 Israeli officers and 63 Saudi military men and officials were killed and many others taken captive in a special military operation of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement in Amir Khalid airbase in Southern Saudi Arabia, a top security official announced on Wednesday.
“The Ansarullah fighters backed by the Yemeni army hit Amir Khalid airbase in Khamees al-Mushait region in Southern Saudi Arabia with a scud missile and several Najm al-Saqeb (Striking Star) missiles last week, killing over 20 senior Israeli officers and 63 Saudi military men and capturing 35 others,” Mehdi Nasser al-Bashi told FNA on Wednesday.
He mentioned that the Israeli officers were agents of the Mossad spy agency and were in the region to help the Saudi army, and said, “At the time of the attack the Israeli officers were working on a plan to attack some regions of Yemen with prohibited Israeli-made weapons.”
The Yemeni army targeted Amir Khalid military base in Khamees al-Mushait region by Scud missiles last week. The Saudi army claimed that it had intercepted the Scud by two Patriot missiles, but the Arabic-language Al-Mayadeen news channel showed footage of the missile attack, reporting that it had hit the target. Following the attack the Saudi army evacuated the passenger terminals of two airports in nearby areas.
Later reports revealed that Saudi Arabia’s Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Muhammad bin Ahmed al-Shaalan had been killed in the missile attack. Earlier today, a senior commander of Ansarullah confirmed that the Yemeni popular forces and the army had killed the Saudi Air Force Commander in the missile attack.
“Shaalan was killed 5 days ago in the Yemeni army’s special operations against Amir Khalid airbase in Khamees al-Mushait border area in Saudi Arabia,” Colonel Salih Mohammad told FNA on Wednesday.
“The attack against Khalid airbase was waged by missiles and weapons systems that were not very special; the operation was planned by Ansarullah and the Yemeni army conducted it after Ansarullah provided it with the information about Muhammed Shaalan’s presence at Khalid airbase in Khamees al-Mushait,” he added.
Colonel Mohammad, meantime, said that the Yemeni army has also come in possession of advanced US-made weapons systems after capturing the Saudis’ Khalid airbase following the initial missile attack.
Last Wednesday, the official Saudi Press Agency quoting the Ministry of Defense declared the death of Lieutenant General Muhammad bin Ahmed al-Shaalan, but asserted that the commander had died of a heart attack during a work trip outside the kingdom.
Only a few hours later, informed sources in New York challenged the Saudi news agency’s report, and said the General had been killed in Yemen’s missile attacks. An informed Yemeni source who called for anonymity said in New York last Wednesday that “Shaalan was killed in the Yemeni army’s missile attacks against Saudi Arabia’s Khamees al-Mushait region five days earlier”.
Then later on Wednesday, another well-known Saudi source rejected the reports that Shaalan had died of a heart attack, and disclosed that his body was charred showing that he has been killed in an enemy attack.
Jamal Bean wrote on his Tweeter page that Shaalan and his accompanying team have been killed in the Yemeni army’s missile attack since their corpses were scorched by the fire of a blast.
Some 20 Israeli officers and 63 Saudi military men and officials were killed and many others taken captive in a special military operation of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement in Amir Khalid airbase in Southern Saudi Arabia, a top security official announced on Wednesday.
“The Ansarullah fighters backed by the Yemeni army hit Amir Khalid airbase in Khamees al-Mushait region in Southern Saudi Arabia with a scud missile and several Najm al-Saqeb (Striking Star) missiles last week, killing over 20 senior Israeli officers and 63 Saudi military men and capturing 35 others,” Mehdi Nasser al-Bashi told FNA on Wednesday.
He mentioned that the Israeli officers were agents of the Mossad spy agency and were in the region to help the Saudi army, and said, “At the time of the attack the Israeli officers were working on a plan to attack some regions of Yemen with prohibited Israeli-made weapons.”
The Yemeni army targeted Amir Khalid military base in Khamees al-Mushait region by Scud missiles last week. The Saudi army claimed that it had intercepted the Scud by two Patriot missiles, but the Arabic-language Al-Mayadeen news channel showed footage of the missile attack, reporting that it had hit the target. Following the attack the Saudi army evacuated the passenger terminals of two airports in nearby areas.
Later reports revealed that Saudi Arabia’s Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Muhammad bin Ahmed al-Shaalan had been killed in the missile attack. Earlier today, a senior commander of Ansarullah confirmed that the Yemeni popular forces and the army had killed the Saudi Air Force Commander in the missile attack.
“Shaalan was killed 5 days ago in the Yemeni army’s special operations against Amir Khalid airbase in Khamees al-Mushait border area in Saudi Arabia,” Colonel Salih Mohammad told FNA on Wednesday.
“The attack against Khalid airbase was waged by missiles and weapons systems that were not very special; the operation was planned by Ansarullah and the Yemeni army conducted it after Ansarullah provided it with the information about Muhammed Shaalan’s presence at Khalid airbase in Khamees al-Mushait,” he added.
Colonel Mohammad, meantime, said that the Yemeni army has also come in possession of advanced US-made weapons systems after capturing the Saudis’ Khalid airbase following the initial missile attack.
Last Wednesday, the official Saudi Press Agency quoting the Ministry of Defense declared the death of Lieutenant General Muhammad bin Ahmed al-Shaalan, but asserted that the commander had died of a heart attack during a work trip outside the kingdom.
Only a few hours later, informed sources in New York challenged the Saudi news agency’s report, and said the General had been killed in Yemen’s missile attacks. An informed Yemeni source who called for anonymity said in New York last Wednesday that “Shaalan was killed in the Yemeni army’s missile attacks against Saudi Arabia’s Khamees al-Mushait region five days earlier”.
Then later on Wednesday, another well-known Saudi source rejected the reports that Shaalan had died of a heart attack, and disclosed that his body was charred showing that he has been killed in an enemy attack.
Jamal Bean wrote on his Tweeter page that Shaalan and his accompanying team have been killed in the Yemeni army’s missile attack since their corpses were scorched by the fire of a blast.
Netanyahu takes harsh stance against those who 'take the law into their own hands' in wake of Druze attack on an IDF ambulance; 'We are not part of the anarchy that's spreading around us.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed rising tensions in Israel's northern Druze communities Tuesday morning at an international cyber conference, saying that authorities wound capture those responsible for a Druze lynch mob that attacked an IDF ambulance on Monday night, wounding two soldiers and killing a Syrian rebel who was enroute to a hospital.
"We are a State of laws," said Netanyahu. "We are not part of the anarchy that's spreading around us. We won't let anyone take the law into their hands; we won't let anyone interfere in the missions of IDF soldiers."
One of the soldiers who was wounded in the incident saw an improvement in his medical condition overnight and was expected to be released from Rambam hospital on Tuesday. The wounded Syrian who survived the attack with serious wounds was considered stable after an operation late Monday night.
"I call on the leaders of the Druze community, which is a magnificent community with which we have brotherhood, I call on them to calm things down and say to every Druze citizen in Israel, respect the law, respect the soldiers, do not take the law into their own hands - this is what I ask our fellow Druze; this is what I ask from every citizen in the State of Israel," said Netanyahu.
Members of the Druze community however, threatened Tuesday morning that they would continue preventing ambulances transporting wounded Syrian rebels to Israeli hospitals. The Druze claim that Israel is caring for rebels from the al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra Front group, which recently killed some 20 ethic Druze in Syria. Many of Israel's Druze have family and friends across the Golan border and have been calling on Israel to provide them humanitarian and even military aid over the last few weeks.
One Druze resident in the Golan Heights told Ynet, "The incident yesterday happened because of the anger about the murder of our Druze brothers in Syria and the help that Israel is giving to the Nusra Front who are behind the murder of our family members. We, the Syrian Druze, hope for peace and don't want problems but when we are attacked we one sit in silence."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed rising tensions in Israel's northern Druze communities Tuesday morning at an international cyber conference, saying that authorities wound capture those responsible for a Druze lynch mob that attacked an IDF ambulance on Monday night, wounding two soldiers and killing a Syrian rebel who was enroute to a hospital.
"We are a State of laws," said Netanyahu. "We are not part of the anarchy that's spreading around us. We won't let anyone take the law into their hands; we won't let anyone interfere in the missions of IDF soldiers."
One of the soldiers who was wounded in the incident saw an improvement in his medical condition overnight and was expected to be released from Rambam hospital on Tuesday. The wounded Syrian who survived the attack with serious wounds was considered stable after an operation late Monday night.
"I call on the leaders of the Druze community, which is a magnificent community with which we have brotherhood, I call on them to calm things down and say to every Druze citizen in Israel, respect the law, respect the soldiers, do not take the law into their own hands - this is what I ask our fellow Druze; this is what I ask from every citizen in the State of Israel," said Netanyahu.
Members of the Druze community however, threatened Tuesday morning that they would continue preventing ambulances transporting wounded Syrian rebels to Israeli hospitals. The Druze claim that Israel is caring for rebels from the al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra Front group, which recently killed some 20 ethic Druze in Syria. Many of Israel's Druze have family and friends across the Golan border and have been calling on Israel to provide them humanitarian and even military aid over the last few weeks.
One Druze resident in the Golan Heights told Ynet, "The incident yesterday happened because of the anger about the murder of our Druze brothers in Syria and the help that Israel is giving to the Nusra Front who are behind the murder of our family members. We, the Syrian Druze, hope for peace and don't want problems but when we are attacked we one sit in silence."
The wounded Syrians taken out of the ambulance after the attack
For second time in 24 hours, Druze in northern Israel pelt ambulance with stones; two IDF soldiers lightly hurt in attack, one of the Syrian wounded killed.
For the second time in 24 hours, some 150 Druze protesters attacked and hurled stones at a military ambulance transporting wounded Syrian rebels near Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights on Monday night, killing one of the rebels.
Two IDF soldiers who were also in the ambulance, one of them an army doctor, were lightly hurt in the attack. Both Syrians were in serious condition when arriving in Israel. After the attack on the ambulance, both rebels were in critical condition, one of them succumbing to his wounds on the way to the hospital. The two soldiers were taken to the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, while the Syrians were airlifted to the Ramban Medical Center in Haifa.
The ambulance, accompanied by a Military Police patrol car, was making its way to Kiryat Shmona when it encountered the Druze protesters near Majdal Shams, where they hurled stones at it. The ambulance managed to escape, and protesters chased it to Neve Ativ.
An IDF source said the Druze protesters were able to lay their hands on the wounded Syrians, and says the attack likely worsened their condition.
One of the soldiers saw an improvement in his medical condition overnight and is expected to be released from Rambam hospital on Tuesday, while the other was released overnight.
The surviving Syrian who was was in the ambulance during the attack, suffered serious wounds but was considered stable after an operation late Monday night.
Large police forces that arrived at the scene closed off the area as the protesters started clashing with IDF and Border Police forces.
Pro-Assad TV channels in Syria who reported on the attack called the Druze protesters "our heroic countrymen."
A report on the Syrian government's official news agency SANA said that "two terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra were killed after the heroes of the occupied Golan blocked and attacked a Zionist ambulance transporting (the wounded) to one of the Israeli enemy's hospitals for treatment."
An IDF official denied that the wounded rebels were members of the Islamist organization Jabhat al-Nusra.
The Druze protesters were threatening that they would not allow Syrian wounded into Israel for treatment. They called for a protest outside the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya where other wounded Syrians are hospitalized.
The spiritual Leader of the Druze Community in Israel, Sheikh Moafaq Tarif, strongly condemned the incident, saying, "This is not our way, and we are hurting over the criminal act done by lawbreakers, and call on authorities to act."
The sheikh will hold an emergency meeting of the Druze leadership in Israel on Tuesday morning at the Tomb of Nabi Shu'ayb.
Members of the Druze community criticized the IDF for failing to learn from a similar incident early Monday morning and chose to once again go through Druze villages with the military ambulance without taking the proper security measures.
Following the two attacks, the IDF will increase security over dozens of wounded Syrians currently hospitalized in Israeli hospitals out of concern they will also be attacked by Druze protesters.
Twice in 24 hours
In the early hours of Monday morning, several dozens of residents in the Druze local council of Hurfeish in the Upper Galilee attacked a military ambulance that passed through the village, also transporting wounded Syrians to the Galilee Medical Center. Suspects have yet to be arrested.
The residents demanded to know who was in the ambulance. Once the ambulance managed to get away, some of the residents started chasing it and throwing stones at it and blocked its way.
The ambulance driver was able to get away from the checkpoint, but hit one of the residents, a 54-year-old Hurfeish native. He was moderately wounded and taken to the operating room.
The military ambulance finally managed to reach the police station in Ma'alot, and from there it was escorted by police to the hospital in Nahariya.
Those in the ambulance, two soldiers and two wounded Syrians, were not wounded, and the army said that they viewed this as a serious incident. Officials involved in the incident said that the attackers were a handful of delinquents.
The heads of the Druze community in Israel condemned Sunday night's attack, as well as the rumors being spread about the identity of the wounded Syrians that Israel is treating.
In the last few weeks, following tensions in Syria between the rebels and Druze residents, security was beefed up at the hospital by the police. On Saturday night, a demonstration by Druze citizens protesting the continuing treatment of wounded rebels was broken up.
For second time in 24 hours, Druze in northern Israel pelt ambulance with stones; two IDF soldiers lightly hurt in attack, one of the Syrian wounded killed.
For the second time in 24 hours, some 150 Druze protesters attacked and hurled stones at a military ambulance transporting wounded Syrian rebels near Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights on Monday night, killing one of the rebels.
Two IDF soldiers who were also in the ambulance, one of them an army doctor, were lightly hurt in the attack. Both Syrians were in serious condition when arriving in Israel. After the attack on the ambulance, both rebels were in critical condition, one of them succumbing to his wounds on the way to the hospital. The two soldiers were taken to the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, while the Syrians were airlifted to the Ramban Medical Center in Haifa.
The ambulance, accompanied by a Military Police patrol car, was making its way to Kiryat Shmona when it encountered the Druze protesters near Majdal Shams, where they hurled stones at it. The ambulance managed to escape, and protesters chased it to Neve Ativ.
An IDF source said the Druze protesters were able to lay their hands on the wounded Syrians, and says the attack likely worsened their condition.
One of the soldiers saw an improvement in his medical condition overnight and is expected to be released from Rambam hospital on Tuesday, while the other was released overnight.
The surviving Syrian who was was in the ambulance during the attack, suffered serious wounds but was considered stable after an operation late Monday night.
Large police forces that arrived at the scene closed off the area as the protesters started clashing with IDF and Border Police forces.
Pro-Assad TV channels in Syria who reported on the attack called the Druze protesters "our heroic countrymen."
A report on the Syrian government's official news agency SANA said that "two terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra were killed after the heroes of the occupied Golan blocked and attacked a Zionist ambulance transporting (the wounded) to one of the Israeli enemy's hospitals for treatment."
An IDF official denied that the wounded rebels were members of the Islamist organization Jabhat al-Nusra.
The Druze protesters were threatening that they would not allow Syrian wounded into Israel for treatment. They called for a protest outside the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya where other wounded Syrians are hospitalized.
The spiritual Leader of the Druze Community in Israel, Sheikh Moafaq Tarif, strongly condemned the incident, saying, "This is not our way, and we are hurting over the criminal act done by lawbreakers, and call on authorities to act."
The sheikh will hold an emergency meeting of the Druze leadership in Israel on Tuesday morning at the Tomb of Nabi Shu'ayb.
Members of the Druze community criticized the IDF for failing to learn from a similar incident early Monday morning and chose to once again go through Druze villages with the military ambulance without taking the proper security measures.
Following the two attacks, the IDF will increase security over dozens of wounded Syrians currently hospitalized in Israeli hospitals out of concern they will also be attacked by Druze protesters.
Twice in 24 hours
In the early hours of Monday morning, several dozens of residents in the Druze local council of Hurfeish in the Upper Galilee attacked a military ambulance that passed through the village, also transporting wounded Syrians to the Galilee Medical Center. Suspects have yet to be arrested.
The residents demanded to know who was in the ambulance. Once the ambulance managed to get away, some of the residents started chasing it and throwing stones at it and blocked its way.
The ambulance driver was able to get away from the checkpoint, but hit one of the residents, a 54-year-old Hurfeish native. He was moderately wounded and taken to the operating room.
The military ambulance finally managed to reach the police station in Ma'alot, and from there it was escorted by police to the hospital in Nahariya.
Those in the ambulance, two soldiers and two wounded Syrians, were not wounded, and the army said that they viewed this as a serious incident. Officials involved in the incident said that the attackers were a handful of delinquents.
The heads of the Druze community in Israel condemned Sunday night's attack, as well as the rumors being spread about the identity of the wounded Syrians that Israel is treating.
In the last few weeks, following tensions in Syria between the rebels and Druze residents, security was beefed up at the hospital by the police. On Saturday night, a demonstration by Druze citizens protesting the continuing treatment of wounded rebels was broken up.