Police have fired tear gas to break up a demonstration against the Islamic Movement by extreme right-wing activists in an Arab town in northern Israel.

Security officials were put on high alert in anticipation of the provocative demonstration in Umm el-Fahm, taking place this morning.

There have been reports of clashes and of activists throwing stones.

The march was organised to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the death of extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane, killed by an Eygptian-American terrorist.

Police originally refused to give the demonstrators a permit, but a court overturned the ban.

Avishay Braverman, Israel’s minister for minority affairs, called the march a "destructive and dangerous provocation aimed at inciting against the town's Arab residents."

There were clashes between activists and Umm el-Fahm residents in 2009 after a similar march.