Israeli mayor in Arab worker ban

An Israeli mayor has imposed a partial ban on employing Arab workers in his city in a sign of mounting security concerns after a surge in deadly Palestinian attacks.

Ashkelon mayor Itamar Shimoni announced on Facebook that he was stopping “until further notice” the work of Arab labourers building bomb shelters in nursery schools in the city of 113,000, which is close to the Gaza Strip.

He also said guards would be posted at about 40 pre-schools near construction sites where Arabs work.