Large scale Arab demonstrations, described as the largest held in Israel since statehood, continued today in protest against the killing of five Arab youths in two attempts to cross the border into the Egyptian held Gaza Strip.
The demonstrations started on Yom Kippur eve, Tuesday, during the funeral of three of the youths, aged 18 to 19, who were killed by an Israeli patrol when they refused to obey an order to halt. Communist elements in Haifa seized the incident to incite a mob. They took charge of the funeral which was converted into a mass demonstration in which Arabs carried the three uncovered coffins at the head of the march.
Shouts against the Israel Government and cries of “Long Live Nasser and Arab Palestine” were heard. Even when the funeral procession marched into the cemetery, the Communists took over the burial services from the priests and the families of the youths, Defying demands of the priests, the Communists brought the three bodies to a common grave. As a result, the priests left the scene.
Arabs attending the funeral returned to Nazareth where the Communists arranged the Yom Kippur demonstrations. They distributed leaflets calling for a work stoppage and more demonstrations. Organizers of the agitation went into-the schools and forced teachers to halt classes, 2,000 pupils joining in a march to the town hall.
As the procession was swelled by agitators and workmen, police tried to persuade the demonstrators to disband. When such efforts failed, the police charged in with batons to end the demonstration. Two policemen were wounded and four demonstrators were detained in the Nazareth demonstrations. Similar demonstrations were held in other Arab villages but there were no clashes as in Nazareth.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
