Druze, Christians clash near Galilee village (original) (raw)

Six people were injured early Friday, two of them sustaining serious wounds, in a brawl which broke out between Druze and Christians near the Galilee village of Eilabun.

The squabble began for an unknown reason as members of the Druze community marched towards the gravesite of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, walking on the main road near the village. The marchers fought with the village residents using guns and stones.

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The Druze community elders who were present at the scene finally managed to restore calmness. “The affair is over and is behind us” said MK Said Naffaa (Balad), member of the Druze community.

Four of the squabble’s injured are hospitalized at Poria Hospital in Tiberias, one severely wounded has undergone emergency surgery due to a bullet hit in his stomach; another moderately injured is at the operative unit and the two lightly wounded are under observation. Another lightly injured person has been released.

Another severely injured person with shrapnel in his head was flown early Friday to the neurosurgical unit at the Rambam Medical Center in the center of Haifa.

The reason for the brawl remains unknown, but the police said that the noise made by the marchers may have caused the upheaval. The Druze community claimed it did not know who is responsible, but since they had not encountered the same response when passing through other villages, it is most likely the fault of Eilabun’s residents.

An emergency meeting attended by the region’s police commanders, Knesset Member Said Naffaa (Balad) and Druze community elders was held early Friday in an attempt to restore peace in the village.

“We have restored calmness and will continue doing so during the event held at Jethro’s gravesite,” said Naffaa.