Netanyahu declares State of Emergency in city of Lod amid “civil war between Arabs and Jews”

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israel declared a state of emergency in the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Lod on Wednesday after Mayor Yair Revivo said a “civil war between Arabs and Jews,” was taking place there.  The rioting, including the torching of three synagogues and the death of an Arab man, began on Monday after Arab residents took to the streets in support of Palestinians clashing with police on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

In a statement to reporters on Tuesday night, Revivo said: “We have completely lost control of the city, and the streets are witnessing a civil war between Arabs and Jews. Residents are being evacuated from their homes…Synagogues are being burned. Hundreds of cars set alight… The situation is incendiary…This is too big for police. This is Kristallnacht in Lod.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Lod at 2 am on Wednesday morning to assess the deteriorated situation. “We will not tolerate this; we need to restore calm,” Netanyahu said during the visit. “If this isn’t an emergency situation, I don’t know what is. We are talking about life and death here.” 

An 8 pm to 4 am curfew has now been implemented and Border Police units are reported to be dispatched to contain the violence.

In a statement calling for adherence to the rule of law, Israeli Arab Raam party leader Mansour Abbas said: “Protests in Arab society are moving in a very dangerous direction, as popular protests have escalated into violence. I call on everyone to behave responsibly and to adhere to the rule of law.”

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