Israeli Arabs have called a strike in protest over the demolition of Bedouin homes..

The action, taking place today was called in response to demolitions in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran on Wednesday.

Influential advocacy group Arab Higher Committee and joint (Arab) List MK Aida Touma-Sliman declared the strike during an emergency meeting in the Negev village.

The decision followed a day of fighting and rising tensions over the demolitions, which left policeman Erez Levi dead after a resident allegedly rammed the officer with his car.

The driver, Yaqoub Mousa Abu al-Qia’an, who “accelerated toward the officers with the intent of carrying out a ramming attack”, was a terrorist with possible Islamic State links according to police. 

Local residents disputed this, telling Israel Radio the driver was a schoolteacher who had been shot by police in an unprovoked attack and was seriously wounded when his car rammed into the officers.

A video later emerged appearing to show officers firing at him before his car accelerated into the policeman. 

Touma-Sliman told the Times of Israel: “We decided that tomorrow will be a strike day, and will also be a day that we raise a black flags in our homes and in our businesses

“There is no normal life when our homes are being demolished.”

As part of the strike Arab businesses and local government buildings will close across the country.

Ms Touma-Sliman said children will go to school for three hours to learn about the demolitions.

A larger strike is expected to take place in Jerusalem next week, with people from Arab cities and towns across Israel gathering in front of the Knesset on Monday morning.