Synagogues, stores, dozens of cars on fire in Lod amid intense rioting

Intense Arab rioting is reported in the Arab-Jewish cities of Ramle and Lod tonight, after hours of unrest.

Channel 12 reports that three synagogues and numerous shops have been set on fire in Lod, and dozens of cars have been set alight. The network says police are escorting some terrified Jewish residents from homes in Lod.

It also reports that police are doing little to halt the rioting.

Lod resident Shiloh Fried tells Channel 12: “Gangs of Arab youths are going street to street, burning stores, smashing windows… Jewish families are huddled at home, terrified of going out… Their cars are being set alight outside… Police are nowhere to be seen.”

He urges police: “Show yourselves — show that you’re not abandoning the city… and calm things down.”

There are reports that some residents are avoiding using public shelters during rocket sirens, out of fear they could be attacked by mobs.

Channel 12 also shows footage of Jewish residents of Lod hurling rocks at cars of Arab residents, though Fried claims such an incident is a minor one compared to the scope of Arab rioting.