Police inquiry into death of Arab Israeli rioter

Israeli police spokesman Ami Ben-David said the death of a protester in riots at the Israeli Arab town of Kafr Qassem Monday night will be investigated, but the level of violence was unacceptable. He rejected charges of law enforcement negligence in dealing with the burgeoning crime in the Israel Arab community. The town itself saw eight unsolved murders in recent months, but according to the police spokesman, the clear-up rate of crimes in the Arab sector was equal to that in the country and large and even slighter better.  A former Shin Bet security service officer said that longstanding problems in the Arab community were being addressed, but Arab lawmakers were counterproductively stirring up unrest for political capital. He urged Arab society to rein in the rising crime and violence in its midst and called on local police forces to deal firmly with lawbreakers. Police recruiters say more young Israeli Arabs should join up with the force.