Last update - 18:47 16/02/2005
Four Druze policemen arrested for rioting in Maghar
By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent
Police arrested Wednesday four Druze policemen on suspicion of taking part in the violent rioting in the Galilee village of Maghar over the weekend. The policemen, who were on vacation, were arrested by police investigators of the valleys sub-district central unit. Two of them serve in the Border Police, and the other two serve in the northern district of the police. All four suspects deny the allegations.
Police investigators have pictures documenting the actions of some of the suspects during the riots, as well as intelligence information gathered during the investigation of the rioting events. All four suspects will be brought to the Nazareth Magistrate Court for the extension of their arrests.
So far police have arrested and investigated 26 Druze residents of Maghar suspected of violent rioting on the weekend. Eighteen of the suspects are still remanded in custody.
Maghar was quiet for the third day running on Wednesday. A hand-grenade that was thrown and did not go off was discovered Tuesday in the home of a Christian family.
Dignitaries and politicians came to Maghar on Tuesday to meet with the leaders of the Druze and Christian communities in the village, and with the head of the local council. A group of Druze sheikhs visited a Maghar church and met with the community?s priest and other Christian dignitaries. The sheikhs condemned the acts of violence and called for calming down the spirits.