Israel Police and Communists Clash in Nazareth; 12 Policemen Injured

Week-long build-up of tension exploded into violence here this morning in the largest Arab center in Israel as the Communists attempted to hold demonstrations in defiance of police regulations. As a result a dozen policemen were injured by stones and an undetermined number of Arab Communists were shoved into police vans and bundled off to jail.

Steel-helmeted riot police and military police were on duty this morning, warned by earlier incidents this week. The center of early incidents was the headquarters of the Communist Party in this town where leading Communists attempted to address crowds congregated in lots opposite and alongside the building.

As early as 7:45 A. M., Shmuel Mikunis, Israel’s leading Communist was seen looking out the windows of headquarters, surveying the crowd. Fifteen minutes later, Emil Habibi, Arab Communist deputy, arrived and began speaking to the crowd from a window. As he completed his address, a hail of rocks fell on the police, who promptly charged and dispersed the crowd.

Meanwhile, a Mapai parade swung down the street and its rear was stoned by Communist Arabs. A few Mapai paraders were hurt, including one Arab boy who suffered a broken leg and was hospitalized. In another development nearby, a youth orchestra of Tel Yosef was stoned by Arab boys, but apparently without injury.

The Mapam refused to join the Mapai parade, despite the fact that it was offered an opportunity to carry banners denouncing military government in Arab areas. The Communists spurned an offer to march with the Histadrut contingent. A representative of the American consulate was in Nazareth today photographing the demonstrations and the riots in front of Communist headquarters.