General Strike in Kafr Kana

A general strike was declared this morning in the Arab-Israeli town of Kafr Kana after the illegally constructed home of a resident of the town was demolished.

Six residents, including Kafr Kana municipal council mayor Mujahad Awadeh, were lightly wounded in ensuing clashes in which police used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber coated bullets to disperse the demonstrators.

The resident, Tarek Khatib, vowed to rebuild his home, which he claimed to have built on land he had inherited.

During a visit to the town, Israeli Arab MK Basel Gattas of the United Arab List called for the building's reconstruction, explaining that a year ago, he had sought to resolve the problem with the regional council, to no avail. "This is the result of the stubbornness and inflexibility of the regional council," he said.