Burning tires, halted traffic: Druze protesters block Route 6 days after Tel Aviv club attack

On Sunday, a group of Druze protesters blocked Route 6 in northern Israel near the Elyakim Interchange, causing significant traffic issues. They set tires ablaze to express their discontent, according to the Israel Police. The protest was sparked by an attack on three young Druze men at a Tel Aviv club the previous night. These individuals were reportedly speaking Arabic when they were verbally assaulted by the assailants, who chanted, "We don't want Arabs here."

One of the victims, who was about to join the IDF, suffered stab wounds while trying to protect his pals.

The injured young man sustained injuries to his back, arm, and face and was taken to a hospital in moderate condition. Police were present at the protest scene to manage traffic and maintain public order. They emphasized that while they respect freedom of expression and protest, they will not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or disrupt the public order.

In response to the incident, Yair Golan, the chairman of the Democratic Party, condemned the attack on the injured young man's X account. He emphasized the inseparability of Druze and Arabs within Israeli society and accused the government, specifically National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, of spreading hate. Golan vowed to restore security to the streets, combat racism, and promote true equality.

Avigdor Liberman, the leader of Yisrael Beytenu, also condemned the incident on X, urging the Israel Police to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the attackers to justice under the strictest penalties.