Arab-Israeli shot dead, tension builds with police

By Kaamil Ahmed

JERUSALEM (AA) – Arab-Israelis have accused Israeli police of murder after a young man was shot dead during clashes that erupted overnight following the arrest of another man in Kfar Qasem, an Arab town in central Israel.

Ayman Odeh, the leader of the Arab bloc of lawmakers in Israel's parliament, accused the police of "continuing crimes against Arab citizens."

"They continue to treat the Arab minority as enemies who must be fought and not protected," he said in a statement.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said in a statement that a local police station came under attack and a security guard opened fire "as a result of a life threatening situation."

Rosenfeld said police have been trying to calm the situation by talking to local leaders and have deployed extra units.

Odeh and other Arab leaders have, however, called for police to leave the area and allow protests to continue after the funeral of Muhammad Taha, 20, was held last night.

An eyewitness quoted by Arab48 newspaper, lawyer Adel Badir, disputed the police account, saying he was close to Taha who was posing no danger to anyone.