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'Druze intifada': Thousands clash with police in Israel's Golan Heights
[Jpost] Thousands of Druze Israelis in the Golan Heights clashed with Israel Police on Wednesday as they protested against the construction of wind turbines in the area, according to the Israel Police Spokesperson's Unit.
The protestors attempted to take over a police station, throwing Molotov cocktails and stones at the police officers who responded by opening fire. The police said that some protestors shot at them, injuring several officers.
Two protestors, 22 and 45 years old, were moderately injured by police fire. They were taken to a nearby hospital.
The police officer who shot one of the injured Druze protesters was quoted by Walla as saying that he "felt his life was in real danger." The protestors reportedly ran at the officer while throwing stones and holding something sharp, as per the report.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the leader of the Druze community in Israel, that he is "concerned" over the "serious" events transpiring in the Golan Heights, in a meeting also attended by Shin Bet director Ronen Bar. In a video statement released following the meeting, the prime minister stressed that Israel is a state where the rule of law reigns supreme, noting that he will "not accepts riot, not in the Golan Heights and not in Judea and Samaria." Netanyahu fully backed officers in their attempts to control the riots.
Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai reassured that Israel Police and Border Police officers spread across the Golan Heights have his "full support," further condemning any attack on officers by Druze protestors. Shabtai further ordered to continue dialogue with Druze community leaders as a means to calm the protest.
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