Arson suspected in village where mayor is accused of murder

Building linked to Julis council chairman Salman Amar heavily damaged, days after he allegedly killed man in ongoing feud

A communal building in a northern Galilee town was heavily damaged in a fire Wednesday morning in an apparent arson attack. The building belonged to an organization set up by the mayor of the town, who allegedly shot a man dead on Monday in a long-running feud.

The fire caused major damage to the building, belonging to the Amirim Foundation, in the northern Druze town of Julis. Amirim is a nonprofit organization founded by Julis council chairman Salman Amar.

It is suspected that the fire was deliberately set in an act of revenge for the killing in which Amar is suspected.

On Monday he allegedly shot local contractor Monir Nibwani after the latter was said to have attacked him with an ax. Amar claims he acted in self-defense.

The scene of a fatal shooting outside the local council building in the village of Julis, September 5, 2016. (MDA spokesperson)

An initial investigation found that there had been a dispute between the men for several weeks and that they had nearly come to blows in the past.

On Tuesday the court extended Amar’s remand for a further eight days.

Nibwani, 45, was laid to rest in Julis Tuesday. The funeral was attended by about 1,000 people, reports said, including Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara (Likud); MK Hamad Amar (Yisrael Beytenu); the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, Sheikh Muwaffak Tarīf; and other Druze leaders and sheikhs from around the country.

Osama Nibwani, a relative and friend of the deceased, told the Walla news site that “the atmosphere in the town is very difficult. Everyone is divided. There is uncertainty.”

On Monday members of the two families involved in the feud agreed to a month-long truce, during which the male members of Amar’s family have left the town, in the hope of reaching reconciliation. The truce was negotiated in the presence of local religious and political leaders.

The Amirim Foundation was set up in memory of Amar’s brother Lieutenant Colonel Amir (Hussein) Amar, who was killed in action on March 4, 1996. The organization’s goals are to build bridges between various segments of Israeli society, to promote education, to look after the disadvantaged and to care for the environment.