Israel police on high alert after mosque torching
Oct 4, 2011 3:44:26 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Oct 4, 2011 3:44:26 GMT -5
Published 10:15 04.10.11
Latest update 10:15 04.10.11
Israel police on high alert following mosque torching in northern Israel
Security forces disperse youth in Tuba-Zanghariyya after 'price tag' arson of local mosque; police bracing for revenge attacks over holidays.
By Eli Ashkenazi, Amos Harel and DPA Tags: Israel police Israel crime Israeli Arab Israel Bedouin Bedouin
Several dozen youths clashed with police overnight in a Bedouin village in northern Israel, after an earlier fire attack on their mosque, officials said Tuesday. The protesters blocked roads with rocks, set fire to tires and threw stones at the police. Angry youth also torched the local council building, the local community center and a health clinic.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the forces had dispersed the youths in Tuba-Zanghariyya, north of the Sea of Galilee, but police remained on high alert in the northern part of the country.
Tuba - Yaron Kaminsky - October 3, 2011
Youth clash with police in Tuba-Zangaria, October 3, 2011
Photo by: Yaron Kaminsky
Police are concerned that Arabs revenge attacks, or acts of Jewish terror, could spark agitation and violence during the upcoming holidays, particularly in cities with mixed Jewish-Arab populations.
The mosque was attacked at about 2:30 Monday morning in the Bedouin town of some 5,500 people, two kilometers east of Rosh Pina. The mosque's interior was seriously damaged, and many holy books were destroyed by the blaze.
This time, in addition to spray-painting the words "price tag" and "revenge" on the mosque, the attackers also painted the word "Palmer," presumably a reference to Asher Palmer and his infant son, who were killed on September 23 when stones were thrown at their car near Kiryat Arba, causing it to crash.
"Price tag" attacks are revenge actions by Jewish extremists, usually against Palestinians, following terror attacks or state demolitions in settlements or outposts.
Israeli leaders condemned the arson attack, wary that it could inflame the delicate relations between Israel's Arab minority and Jewish majority.
Rosenfeld said tempers calmed after Israeli President Shimon Peres led a delegation of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druze spiritual leaders in a visit to the village.
At least 200 angry villagers marched from Tuba-Zanghariyya Monday morning, blocking a road and throwing stones.
Radical Jewish settlers have launched a number of attacks on mosques and graveyards in recent months and years, to avenge Israeli government measures to uproot their outposts in the West Bank.
Previous incidents have occurred in the occupied territory, while vandalism of mosques in Israel proper has been extremely rare.
www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-police-on-high-alert-following-mosque-torching-in-northern-israel-1.388057
Latest update 10:15 04.10.11
Israel police on high alert following mosque torching in northern Israel
Security forces disperse youth in Tuba-Zanghariyya after 'price tag' arson of local mosque; police bracing for revenge attacks over holidays.
By Eli Ashkenazi, Amos Harel and DPA Tags: Israel police Israel crime Israeli Arab Israel Bedouin Bedouin
Several dozen youths clashed with police overnight in a Bedouin village in northern Israel, after an earlier fire attack on their mosque, officials said Tuesday. The protesters blocked roads with rocks, set fire to tires and threw stones at the police. Angry youth also torched the local council building, the local community center and a health clinic.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the forces had dispersed the youths in Tuba-Zanghariyya, north of the Sea of Galilee, but police remained on high alert in the northern part of the country.
Tuba - Yaron Kaminsky - October 3, 2011
Youth clash with police in Tuba-Zangaria, October 3, 2011
Photo by: Yaron Kaminsky
Police are concerned that Arabs revenge attacks, or acts of Jewish terror, could spark agitation and violence during the upcoming holidays, particularly in cities with mixed Jewish-Arab populations.
The mosque was attacked at about 2:30 Monday morning in the Bedouin town of some 5,500 people, two kilometers east of Rosh Pina. The mosque's interior was seriously damaged, and many holy books were destroyed by the blaze.
This time, in addition to spray-painting the words "price tag" and "revenge" on the mosque, the attackers also painted the word "Palmer," presumably a reference to Asher Palmer and his infant son, who were killed on September 23 when stones were thrown at their car near Kiryat Arba, causing it to crash.
"Price tag" attacks are revenge actions by Jewish extremists, usually against Palestinians, following terror attacks or state demolitions in settlements or outposts.
Israeli leaders condemned the arson attack, wary that it could inflame the delicate relations between Israel's Arab minority and Jewish majority.
Rosenfeld said tempers calmed after Israeli President Shimon Peres led a delegation of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druze spiritual leaders in a visit to the village.
At least 200 angry villagers marched from Tuba-Zanghariyya Monday morning, blocking a road and throwing stones.
Radical Jewish settlers have launched a number of attacks on mosques and graveyards in recent months and years, to avenge Israeli government measures to uproot their outposts in the West Bank.
Previous incidents have occurred in the occupied territory, while vandalism of mosques in Israel proper has been extremely rare.
www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-police-on-high-alert-following-mosque-torching-in-northern-israel-1.388057
