Palestinians clash with Israeli police at anti-Arab march

Violence broke out today in Israel after Jewish ultra-nationalists marched on one of the country's largest Arab towns, chanting "death to terrorists".

About 200 locals threw rocks at police in Umm el-Fahm, which is said to be the Israeli stronghold of the radical Islamic Movement.

The town's mayor, Khaled Hamdan, said the police were protecting the protesters, but condemned the demonstration. "The purpose behind this (march) clearly is to provoke and to cause chaos," he said.

Amneh Jabari, a 38-year-old woman who lives along the march route, said demonstrators hoisting white-and-blue Israeli flags and reciting prayers chanted "death to the Arabs" and "Umm el-Fahm will be Jewish".

There were 10 arrests but no reported serious injuries, although a Palestinian politician, Hanin Zoabi, claimed to have been hit by two police rubber bullets, which officers denied.

The violence flared up as an Israeli court jailed a prominent Palestinian activist of spying for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for 10 years.