Israeli police boosts security in Jaffa after a Palestinian killed

Israel has dispatched a large group of police forces to Jaffa, a coastal city adjacent to Tel Aviv, for fear of disorder after police officers indiscreetly shot dead a Palestinian man Wednesday morning, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth said.

According to the Yedioth Ahronoth report, police activity in Jaffa was boosted Wednesday morning for fear of disturbances, after a Palestinian was killed by police officers at a flea market.

The incident took place at around 8 a.m. as local border guard officers patrolled the market in search of illegal residents. The officers signaled to several of the market visitors to stop near a construction site.

According to the police, one of those people didn't want to turn himself in and attacked a policeman, trying to snatch his weapon. During the struggle, the man was accidentally shot. A Magen David Adom crew rushed to the scene, and shortly afterwards announced the Palestinian's death.

In light of past experience, such incidents often led to anger and disturbances. The Tel Aviv District Police launched an investigation into the matter.

United Arab List-Ta'al chairman and Knesset (Parliament) member Taleb El-Sana harshly criticized police for having a "light finger on the trigger."

"It appears the police have not learned the lessons of October 2000," he said, referring to events in which police shot dead 13 unarmed Israeli Arabs during protests in the north following the outbreak of the intifada.

Police said that crime dropped significantly since police boosted its presence in Tel Aviv, saying that operations against illegal aliens are of utmost importance.

Source: Xinhua