Hundreds of residents of the Israeli Arab municipality of Um el-Fahm spilled out onto Route 65 in the Nachal I’ron (Wadi Ara) area on Friday afternoon, 29 Sivan. Route 65 is a main north/south vehicular route.

The Israeli Arab citizens were protesting the ongoing IDF mission to locate and rescue the three yeshiva teenagers being held by Hamas. Some 400 citizens waved PLO flags and called for the immediate halt of Operation Brothers Return.

Police moved in quickly, dispatching Yassam commando troops to keep the main vehicular artery open. When protestors refused to comply with orders by police and then began pelting police with rocks, stun grenades and other riot-control adjuncts were used. Among the protestors was Arab MK Muhmad Baraka.

Due to the violent confrontation, that area of the roadway was closed.

Names for Tehillim:

1. Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah

2. Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim

3. Eyal ben Iris Teshurah

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)