Youth arrested over YouTube clips that denigrate Druze community

Police said on Friday that they arrested a youth last week on suspicion that he uploaded clips denigrating the Druze community to YouTube, one of which allegedly led to recent fighting among residents in the northern town of Shfaram.

Police made the announcement after a gag order was lifted in the case.

Police and Border Police, including anti-riot squads, depolyed in Shfaram more than one week ago to prevent armed riots and clashes between the Druze and Christian communities that spread through the town.

Tensions had been running high in the town, after Druze and Christian teenagers started fighting among themselves on June 13. The fighting turned into a mass brawl, in which nine teenagers were stabbed, and two of them were moderately wounded.