Acting Mayor of Lod Ilan Harari sent a letter to Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this week warning him that Lod could soon face the outburst of violent Arab-Jewish riots, similar to those that broke out in Akko earlier in the year. Harari asked Olmert to make safety in Lod a top government priority.
In his letter Harari mentioned the recent arrest of Israeli-Arabs from Lod accused of planning to kidnap an IDF soldier, and an arson attack that took place two months ago that was apparently carried out by Arabs. “These events are likely to burst the tense and already fragile coexistence,” he warned.
Harari reminded Olmert of the government's commitment to employ more police officers in Lod, a commitment which has yet to be fulfilled. Lod's current police force is doing what it can, he said, but residents of the city still feel unsafe, particularly in light of recent events.
The riots Harari spoke about began on Yom Kippur, when an Arab resident of Akko drove wildly through a Jewish neighborhood, leading to a minor fight. Several local Muslims then used city mosques to broadcast a false report that the Arab driver had been killed.
Hundreds of Muslims flocked to Jewish neighborhoods of the city in response, smashing windows and causing serious damage to Jewish-owned homes, stores and cars. Jews fought back, and despite police intervention the ensuing violent clashes lasted for several days.
Lod was largely spared in the riots, but suffered several cases of vandalism, including the torching of the “Dat Moshe v'Yisrael” synagogue. Harari called for calm and worked to prevent the eruption of Arab-Jewish tensions. He was later commended by the Anti-Defamation League for his efforts.
Following the riots, Lod and Akko were among three mixed Muslim-Jewish cities chosen as part of the “City without Violence” program. The program, led by the Ministry of Public Security, aimed to reduce violence in the cities. Its steps included the signing of a “joint social contract” and anti-violence education in city schools.