[Anchor]
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has appealed for Jews and Arab Israelis to avoid descending into what he called "a senseless civil war."
His voice was added to those of religious and political leaders calling for internal calm as the two communities react to the intense fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in Gaza.
The BBC's James Reed reports.
[Reprter]
For many Israelis, the barrage of Palestinian rocket fire, though terrifying, is at least familiar.
More shocking has been the outbreak of street violence between Jews and Israeli Arabs.
In several towns and cities, rival mobs have attacked cars, shops and people.
The prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, described the scenes as "unacceptable."
He said nothing justified the lynching of Arabs by Jews or of Jews by Arabs.
He's given the police emergency powers to restore order and said the Army may also be brought in.
The civil unrest has raised fears that the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict may be heading into dangerous new territory.
[Anchor]
Heavy Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian rocket fire continued through the night.
The Israeli military said its targets in Gaza included intelligence buildings, a bank and a Hamas naval squad.
Palestinian militants have launched waves of rockets towards Israeli cities.
Israel's security Cabinet has approved plans to escalate the bombardment of Gaza.
At least 67 Palestinians, including 15 children, have been killed since Monday.
