DHAKA: Palestinian citizens of Israel have announced a general strike and more protests as unrest continues to sweep Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since the killing of two Israeli settlers in the West Bank on October 1.

The High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, an extraparliamentary body that represents the minority community, declared a general strike for Tuesday.

Arab-owned businesses, schools and other institutions will be closed, reports Al Jazeera.

For the past week, thousands of Palestinians in Israel have protested in Haifa, Jaffa, Nazareth and other cities and villages in Palestinian communities across the country.

The High Follow-Up Committee said in a statement that ‘solidarity and protest’ were necessary in the face of ‘fascist incitement’ and attacks on the part of the Israeli government.

Majd Kayyal, media coordinator of Haifa-based Adalah Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel who has attended protests in the last week, told Al Jazeera that the strike was motivated by the ‘harsh treatment’ employed by Israeli police to disperse peaceful protests in present-day Israel.

BDST: 1253 HRS, OCT 13, 2015
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