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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Bedouin protests in Israel lead to injuries, arrests

From Wire Reports

Jerusalem – Large protests over a plan to resettle nomadic Bedouin Arabs in Israel’s southern Negev desert caused injuries Saturday and led to some arrests as well as condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Protests focused on a bill that would move thousands of Bedouins into government-recognized villages. Opponents charge the plan would confiscate Bedouin land and affect their nomadic way of life, but Israel says the moves are necessary to provide basic services that many Bedouins lack and would benefit their community while preserving their traditions.

More than 1,000 people protested in a Negev village in southern Israel on Saturday. The demonstration turned violent when some protesters threw rocks and fire bombs at police and burned tires. Police, some on horseback, responded with water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades.

Hundreds more took to the streets at protests held in Jerusalem, Haifa and elsewhere. Police made more than 40 arrests and 15 officers were injured.

Japan asks regulatory body to take action over islands

Tokyo – Japan has asked the world body that regulates air travel to take action after China’s declaration of an air-defense identification zone in the East China Sea, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

With backing from the United States, Britain and Australia, Japanese envoys met with the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Friction has been rising since Beijing told the world a week ago to register whenever it sends planes through a region that includes the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands. The islands were declared part of an air-defense identification zone.

The United States, Japan and South Korea sent military jets to crisscross the zone to show they reject the Chinese declaration. The islands lie near oil and gas reserves and are claimed by China as the Diaoyu and by Taiwan as the Tiaoyutai islands.

Japan said the ICAO should become involved because China’s actions may threaten security and order in civil aviation. The Japanese news agency Kyodo said China was strongly opposed to ICAO intervention.