Muslim-Druze clashes started over kaffiyeh dispute

Police deployed to Abu Snan to prevent further violence, after 41 hurt in overnight riots in wake of school disagreement exacerbated online.

Hassan Shaalan, YNET

dRUZETensions continued to mount Saturday evening in the village of Abu Snan a mere day after 41 Israelis were hurt in heavy clashes between Druze and Muslims Arabs. Police forces have deployed to the area fearing another flare-up in riots sparked by a dispute between local students.

Residents said that in midweek two Muslim students entered the Abu Snan high school wearing kaffiyehs and were confronted by two Druze students who asked them to remove the scarves. “You have no right to wear that here,” they were told.

The two groups of students at the high school clashed in the wake of the incident. The school day was suspended and those in charge dismissed the students early. The school council was scheduled to convene in an attempt to calm tensions, but the meeting was delayed due to the overnight clashes.

The argument did not end on school grounds and continued to spread across the community. On Friday local residents traded curses against Druze and Arab women on Secret, an anonymous messaging application. The dispute worsened following the virtual exchanges, developing into physical clashes during the night.

A Muslim resident arrived by vehicle to a gathering, where witnesses claimed he attempted to run over the Druze residents, who pulled him out of the car and severely beat him. A fragmentation grenade was thrown into the crowd, wounding dozens of residents. Eyewitnesses claimed a Druze man had thrown the grenade.

An initial response by the regional council chair denied any connection between the clashes and the kaffiyeh dispute, but the families of the wounded objected to that version of events and claimed the riot was started due to the scarves and the students’ wishes to protest the killing of Khair Hamdan by Israel Police.

In the afternoon hours, a Jewish man arrived with an Israeli flag and a sign reading, “I support our Druze brothers.” He was harassed by Muslim residents, who urged him to leave. “Go away, have you no shame? If you do not leave, you will be next in line.” Police asked the protester to vacate the area.

Abu Snan, with a population of 13,000, has a Muslim majority of 7,000 residents while some 4,000 locals are Druze; the rest are Christian Arabs. Police faced difficulty restoring order, using tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the rioters.

November 16, 2014 | 32 Comments »

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32 Comments / 32 Comments

  6. HAPPY 50th. BIRTHDAY YAMIT82. Hope you live to be 150 years. You should live to see the construction of the third Temple.
    FELICIDADES!

  7. The people’s spirit here remains vital, alive. The leadership… STINKS.
    Oslo was meant from the word go to change… the people… The unJews failed.

  18. yamit82 Said:

    Creeping senility did its work at last!

    It even strikes the young!
    http://vid.alarabiya.net/images/2014/11/16/d90024b8-d639-46d2-8004-a541cb808fa6/d90024b8-d639-46d2-8004-a541cb808fa6_16x9_600x338.JPG
    “Live long and prosper” 😛
    http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2F5%2F5a%2FSpock_vulcan-salute.png&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FVulcan_(Star_Trek)&h=282&w=400&tbnid=YQFgMPAm5nQWYM%3A&zoom=1&docid=V4cKmW4hh321QM&ei=LyNqVLv5Du6asQTXuYGACw&tbm=isch&ved=0CB4QMygAMAA&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=6412&page=1&start=0&ndsp=17

  19. honeybee Said:

    chinese haberdashery?

    Bernard !!!!!!!!!! You have a sense of irony ???????????

    thank you, I just wanted my post to be relevant to the article which I presume was over the muslim druze fashion quarrel regarding the appropriateness of Keffiyeh. I thought Obama might want to weigh in with his own fashion statement straight from your local haberdashery.

    as for the keffiyeh conflict I can only say to achmed:
    “you like keffiyeh and I like the kippah” 😛
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnf5HnW8C4E

  20. @ Eric R.:
    @ SHmuel HaLevi 2:

    “Young Druze started fighting alongside Jews in 1947, when Druze community elders agreed to allow them to serve in the pre-state Haganah militia. When the war over Israel’s newfound independence erupted, the Druze joined a new minorities unit, made up of Bedouin, Circassian, and Druze. Many more Druze began volunteering during the 1948/9 war, as the community historically supports the local ruling power.

    The bond between Israeli Jews and Druze, forged on the battlefield, grew closer over the ensuing decades, as the Druze unit fought in the 56, 67, and 73 campaigns. The Druze battalion came of age in Operation Litani in 1978. During the successful Israeli drive to push the PLO out of southern Lebanon, the battalion operated independently and with distinction.

    As Druze soldiers completed their mandatory service, a sizeable reserve force grew, and the IDF created reserve Druze battalions. The soldiers were determined and willing to serve. When called up for the 1982 Lebanon War, Druze reserve enlistment rates reached 100%.

    The battalion was later named the Herev, or Sword, Battalion, designated for Druze youth. A new unit, the Bedouin Scout Battalion 585, was created for the Bedouin community in Israel. With the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising in 2000, Herev moved from the Gaza Strip to the northern border, close to the Druze villages.

    While Herev patrolled the border with Lebanon in 2006, Hizbullah fighters ambushed an IDF reservist patrol in a neighboring sector. The Second Lebanon War had begun. The Druze battalion entered Hizbullah territory on the first day of the war, and was the last unit to leave more than month later. Permanently stationed in north for the previous 6 years, the battalion was well-trained in fighting in dense, mountainous terrain. The preparation proved itself in the fighting. Herev suffered no casualties in the entire war, and killed at least 15 Hizbullah fighters. Interestingly, four Druze soldiers rushed back to their villages during the war to get married, then immediately rejoined their comrades in combat.

    Motivation to serve remains extremely high. Around 83% of eligible Druze men serve in the IDF, compared to only 72% of eligible Israeli Jews. 369 Israeli Druze have lost their lives in service to Israel. The Druze have a long martial tradition, and service in elite IDF combat units fits that heritage well. Druze soldiers are known as tough, determined fighters, easy to serve with but sensitive about issues of personal and familial honor…” READ MORE HERE

  26. al aribya english, I am sure you read that site sometimes, along with al monitor. they are geared to english language western markets.
    I found the photo of obama hilarious, the chinese think he is an “idle rapper”

  30. @ Eric R.:
    There are several high ranking officers from the Druze community. One officer was murdered a few days ago by a muslim murderous beast in Jerusalem. The terrorist rode down people with a car and killed him.
    I served in the IDF and fought in Lebanon. Our Division was under the command of Sgan Aluf, Colonel Hamse, Druze.
    I am proud of having been a soldier under his command. Terrific patriot.

  31. Out of curiosity, what is the highest military rank presently held by a Druze, and what is the highest government position that a Druze has held?

  32. I got the feeling that the Druze can deal with the problem.
    It is the unJews that I cannot stand. One may notice that the Oslo associates do not negotiate peace deals with the loyal Druze. Peres finds peace deals only with the treasonous islamics.