JEWISH MAN & CHRISTIAN WIFE START A RIOT

Catholic leaders to hold protest march over Nazareth attack

Catholic Church leaders in Israel intend to hold a peaceful march in Nazareth on Saturday, in protest over riots that erupted Friday night when a Jewish man accompanied by his Christian wife and their relative detonated firecrackers inside the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

The incident in the northern Israeli Arab city triggered riots that resulted in the injury of 13 police officers and 13 local residents. Around midnight, a tense calm prevailed in the city. Representatives of the Supreme Arab Follow-Up Committee and all the Arab parties are to join the march.

Police said the Jewish man, Haim Eliyahu Havivi, 44, had a history of mental illness. The assailants were not believed to be linked to any ultra-nationalist Jewish group.

Towards evening, the three assailants hid firecrackers and small gas canisters in a baby stroller and detonated the firecrackers inside the church during a special prayer for the opening of Lent. Havivi and the two women entered the basilica compound disguised as Christian pilgrims. Police had questioned Havivi in the past after he threatened to attack churches in Israel.

Jerusalem welfare services are also familiar with the couple, after their children were taken away from them. Channel 10 TV News reported the Shin Bet domestic security service said Havivi is known to have a history of mental illness. Havivi had attempted to attack churches in the past, notably the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Havivi had even made his way to the Ramallah headquarters of former Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat several years ago, claiming that Israeli authorities were attempting to confiscate his daughter. At the time, Havivi told Arafat he wanted to remain in PA-controlled territory.