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Police have returned the gun of a soldier who was attacked in the ancient city of Akko, reports legal organization Honenu, who is representing the soldier.

The soldier was touring the coastline of the Old City of Akko with his family, when a group of Arabs confronted them, and several tried to push the soldier and a family member off a 12 meter (40 foot) wall into the shallow seas below.

The soldier drew his personal handgun - holding it close to his body - when he felt his life was in danger.

Despite the circumstances, police who arrived at the scene detained the soldier for questioning, and confiscated his gun. The Arab attackers were not arrested.

Yesterday, the soldier was invited to the Akko police station, and his personal handgun was returned to him after the police accepted his claim that he was acting under life-threatening conditions.

Attorney Adi Keidar, who is representing the soldier, praised the return of his property, though he called on police to arrest the Arab attackers. "I am happy that the police accepted the soldier's version, that he was attacked and acted out of self defense, and they returned his gun. At the same time, I call on the police to close the investigation file opened against him and to arrest the Arab attackers, who belong behind bars."

Arabs and Jews generally have a quiet relationship in the mixed city of the north, though there are occasional breaks in the silence. In 2008, Arabs in Akko rioted on Yom Kippur when it coincided with Eid Al-Adha. There have been occasional outbreaks since, though the Muslim leadership of Akko tends to be moderate.