Five Jewish minors spent the night in police cells after a scuffle with Arabs broke out near the Shechem Gate during the traditional Flagdance march (Rikudgalim).

When the procession reached the Shechem Gate, Arabs began throwing various objects at the marchers. Some of the Jewish youths responded and a scuffle broke out. Police arrested five Jewish youths and an unknown number of Arabs.

According to Honenu, the NGO that assists Jews suspected of nationalist crimes, the Jewish youths were taken to the Russian Compound. One of them, aged 14, had to call his parents to come from Dimona at 2 a.m. in order to bail him out, Honenu said, when police could have released him based on the signature of his brother, who is 26 and lives in Jerusalem.

Police deny the accusation and say that the brother refused to sign the bail form and insisted that the parents be called.

Honenu insists that police could have released all five minors by Sunday afternoon instead of locking them up overnight. They added that all Jews and Arabs arrested for the Jerusalem Day altercation have been freed on bail and that charge sheets will be filed soon. (IsraelNationalNews © 2012 05/21/12)