Gaza Refugee Camp Under Curfew Following Rock-throwing Incident

Israeli security forces clamped a curfew Tuesday on the Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, following large-scale disturbances, which cost the life of one resident and resulted in eight others wounded.

The riots in Shati were reminiscent of the early days of the intifada, with masses of youths throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers. An initial army investigation into the event indicated that “the soldiers had acted according to regulations” in the face of a massive barrage of rocks.

The incident began when a civilian-dressed army patrol opened fire at two masked men who were busy writing political slogans on the walls of buildings. Sama Salama al-Akuri, 17, died immediately of gunshot wounds.

Hundreds of worshippers then left the local mosques and began pelting the army patrol, which responded with live fire, wounding at least six, two of whom are reportedly in critical condition.

In another security incident, police on Tuesday prevented Binyamin Kahane, son of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, from entering Umm el-Fahm, the largest Arab town in Israel proper.

When he was alive, Meir Kahane led a group there to make clear his position that Arabs should be transferred out of Israel. He, too, was barred from entering the town.

On Tuesday, his son was held for questioning on the argument that by entering the Arab town he was “endangering himself and the peace of the public.” In 1984, police said Meir Kahane’s visit could have led to widespread violence.

Binyamin Kahane, who leads a group called Kahane Chai, has been known to try to rally his father’s followers around him, in opposition to the leadership of Avraham Toledano, the present leader of the Kach movement, which Meir Kahane formerly headed.

“This is my country and this is my town, and I will go wherever I want,” the younger Kahane said, as he tried unsuccessfully to convince the police to let him enter the town.