(IsraelNN.com) Meretz Chairman Chaim Oron has appealed to Public Security Minister Avi Dichter to release from custody Tawfik Jamal, the Arab driver who ignited five days of riots in the city of Akko where Arabs comprise almost 25 percent of the population.

Oron said in a statement Tuesday evening that he “can’t find logic in inflaming the fire, from a local fire ignited by hooligans, to a national struggle. On the one hand, the Akko Festival – which is important to the coexistence – is called off, and on the other hand, riots are created through this arrest.”

By Tuesday night, it appeared likely that Jamal would be released within a few days.

According to Channel 10 television, United Arab List-Ta’al MK Abas Zkoor said Tuesday night he was told by Akko police officers that the driver will probably be released on Thursday. Zkoor added that the arrest was only carried out in order to ‘calm down’ the Jewish residents of the city.

Police responded that if they did not believe the man was a danger to the public, they would not have requested that the court extend his remand.  Police investigators are continuing to collect evidence in order to formulate an indictment.