General strike declared in Israel’s Arab sector; IDF, police on alert

A one-day general strike was launched Wednesday morning in Israel's Arab sector to protest an order to destroy 11 houses that had been built illegally in the city of Qalanswa. Educational institutions and municipal authorities in Arab towns and cities throughout the country are participating in the strike. The IDF and police have deployed forces to deal with possible unrest at demonstrations to be held in the afternoon in Israel's "Triangle" area, northeast of Tel Aviv, and in the north. The decision on the strike was made at a meeting on Tuesday of a supreme coordination committee consisting of representatives from throughout the sector.