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Israeli Police Demolish Bedouin Mosque

   VOA News 07 November 2010
   Israeli  Arab youths, holding green Islamic flags, stand on the rubble
   of  a mosque, demolished by the Israeli police, in the Bedouin city of
   Rahat, southern Israel, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010.

Photo: AP

   Israeli  Arab youths, holding green Islamic flags, stand on the rubble
   of  a mosque, demolished by the Israeli police, in the Bedouin city of
   Rahat, southern Israel, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010.

   Upset  Bedouins  pelted  Israeli police with rocks Sunday, angry about
   the demolition of an illegally built mosque.
   Israeli  officials said hundreds of officers descended on the southern
   Bedouin  city of Rahat early Sunday, acting on an earlier court ruling
   that said the mosque's builders never got the required permits.
   Israeli  authorities also alleged the mosque was built with money from
   the  northern  branch  of  the  Islamic  Movement,  which supports the
   militant group Hamas.
   Police  said they fired tear gas to break up the protests, and that no
   one was hurt.  Officials said five stone throwers were detained.
   Rahat's  mayor called a general strike to protest the demolition.  He
   said  residents  are  upset because the mosque was taken down during a
   holy period.
   A  representative  of  the  Islamic  Movement in Rahat said the mosque
   would be rebuilt.
   Israeli  media  said  some  Rahat  residents  have already started the
   rebuilding process.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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