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Fourth night of Jewish-Arab clashes

Israel - Fourth night of violence
Israel - Fourth night of violence

Jews and Arabs clashed for a fourth consecutive night in the northern Israeli city of Acre leaving at least three people injured in hospital.

Three Jewish demonstrators were also arrested in the town where riots erupted late on Wednesday night on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.

More than 700 officers remained on patrol in the coastal city of 50,000 people to try and keep a lid on the violence.

Police said the clashes broke out when an Arab resident drove through a conservative Jewish neighbourhood blaring music from his car stereo.

A group of Jewish youths assaulted the driver, accusing him of deliberately making noise and disrupting the sanctity of Yom Kippur, when most Jews in Israel observe a religious ban on driving.

Hundreds of Arabs took to the streets shortly afterwards, damaging around 100 cars and 40 shops, according to the police.

In the ensuing days Jewish and Arab rioters clashed with each other and with police.

Two protesters and a police officer have been wounded and 25 people arrested since the violence broke out.