The Shuafat refugee camp north of Jerusalem is the scene of a determined war against drug traffickers being waged by camp residents and their local religious leaders. The police say Shuafat is a major drug center which attracts Israeli as well as Arab dealers.
About 150 youths staged an anti-drug demonstration after prayer services at the camp mosque Wednesday evening. It degenerated into a riot in which 10 people were injured including a 10-year-old boy, two women and an Israeli taxi driver. Police, border police and army units surrounded the camp but did not intervene.
Leaders of the anti-drug drive said last Tuesday that they had managed to oust several hard drug dealers from the camp. They are continuing their campaign to flush out other suspected drug dealers.
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