KUFR QASSEM, June 6, 2017 (WAFA) – A 21-year-old Palestinian was killed and another injured during violent protests that erupted early Tuesday in the town of Kufr Qassem inside Israel.

The protests erupted after police attempted to arrest a local resident, said Israeli police.

Following the arrest, residents gathered at the local police station and attempted to break into it.

Police claimed a civilian security guard feared for his life and opened fire killing Muhammad Taha, 21, and injuring another.

Following the incident, residents attacked and torched the police station and three police cars.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.

The Arab Higher Committee of representatives of Palestinians inside Israel held the Israeli government responsible for the outbreak of violence and announced after an emergency meeting in Kufr Qassem a general strike in all Arab towns in Israel on Wednesday.

It said rise in organized crime and murder cases in Arab towns, which reports said reached 31 since the start of the year, was due to the Israeli government negligence of Arab towns and police failure to arrest criminals and murderers.

The committee also decided to organize protests at major roads and intersections near the Arab towns on Thursday and a central protest in Kufr Qassem on Saturday.

It also called for the resignation of the Israeli chief of police and the minister of home security, while holding the police responsible for the violence that broke out in the town following the arrest of the local resident.

M.K.