About 500 people on Tuesday arrived at the square in front of the Beer Sheva courthouse to rally in support on farmer Shai Dromi, who is suspected of killing a Negev resident who had apparently tried to break into to Dromi's ranch.

Shmuel Rifman, head of the Ramat Hanegev local council, and Pini Badash, head of the Omer Regional Council, as well as many farmers from the south of Israel, were among those at the scene.

Dromi was arrested on Saturday under suspicion that he shot and killed the alleged burglar, Khaled al-Atrash, 31.

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Rifman spoke to the protestors, saying there were several objectives for the rally, including aiding Dromi in his struggle against the policy of Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, who "abandoned the people," according to Rifman.

Rifman said, "We will demand rules similar to those at work in the United States. Every fence should have a "private property" sign on it, and whoever enters without permission will leave on a stretcher." The crowd cheered Rifman on.

Tzvika Bar-Chai, head of the Mount Hebron Regional Council, said Dromi should be awarded a badge of honor. "He acted as any Jew or Zionist representing Israel who needs to guard his property would," Bar-Chai said. "The only problem is that Dromi didn't hit all of them."