Israelis Stage Demonstrations to Protest Deadly Bombing Attack

Hundreds of angry Israelis have been staging demonstrations since Saturday morning to protest the overnight fatal suicide bombing attack in Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv.

The Jewish protestors are gathering outside the Hassan Bek mosque, opposite the Dolphinarium night club in southern Tel Aviv, where the bombing attack took place, killing 17 Israeli youngsters and injuring over 100 others.

They threw rocks and broken bottles, while chanting slogans to take revenge against the Arabs. The protestors also beat reporters and cameramen at the mosque, witnesses said.

About 10 Israelis entered the mosque and the protestors prevented Arab youths from bringing food to worshippers who have been trapped in the mosque since Saturday morning. Rocks have also been hurled from the other side of the mosque at the protestors.

A large number of policemen have arrived at the mosque and seven protestors have reportedly been arrested. Four police officers were lightly injured by rocks thrown by the protestors.

Following the suicide bombing attack, the worst of its kind against Israelis since 1997, the anti-Arab emotions among Israeli public are running high.

During his visit of wounded victims at a Tel Aviv hospital on Saturday, Israeli Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit called on the public to exercise restraint and not to take the law into their own hands.

The Israeli cabinet has ordered the army to impose a full closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip and is still weighing other measures for response.






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