Jewish groups denounce ‘price tag’ attacks by extremists

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Thursday strongly condemned the spate of “Price Tag” attacks in Israel, welcomed the commitment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue the perpetrators, and called on Israeli law enforcement to enhance crackdown efforts against those responsible.

The so-called Price Tag attacks are carried out by extremist Israeli Jews against Israeli Arabs, Palestinians and occasionally other Jews, and frequently target Muslim and Christian religious sites as a form of “retribution” for Israeli government action in the settlements as well as political decisions taken with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The attacks generally involve vandalism of property and the spray-painting of hateful and racist messages directed at the price tag targets.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

“We deplore the recent spate of price tag attacks in Israel, a number of which have targeted Muslim and Christian religious sites. These heinous actions are antithetical to Jewish values and those responsible – both for inciting and committing the attacks – must be identified and stopped.

“We welcome the commitment of Prime Minister Netanyahu to pursue those behind the attacks. However, we share the frustration of many Israelis about the lack of progress thus far in apprehending and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Price tag attacks represent a growing disregard for the law by Jewish extremists, and vigorous and ongoing action by Israeli law enforcement officials is needed to quell these abhorrent acts of hate.

“A full, unabated crackdown against price tag perpetrators would be a clear demonstration of Israel’s zero-tolerance policy towards all types of racism and hatred.”

In April, there were several recorded price tag attacks across Israel, including incidents against Muslim and Christian religious sites.

ADL has voiced concern and condemned past attacks – including most recently after a round of incidents in Abu Ghosh – and called on Israeli government and law enforcements officials to take concrete steps to bring those responsible to justice.

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Meanwhile, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued this comment:  “As we approach Israel’s 66^th birthday, we celebrate the commitment from its inception to the rule of law, democracy and tolerance. We are profoundly concerned by the series of acts of vandalism, desecration and violence by a group motivated by extremist ideologies. We welcome the condemnation by the Prime Minister and many government officials and the recognition that there is no justification for any act in violation of the law. Neither the age, religion, nor motivation of those carrying out assaults are relevant to the need for swift and serious action by law enforcement to bring them to justice. Whether the target is a mosque, a church, a synagogue, soldiers or private property, it cannot be tolerated and we urge that the resources necessary be allocated to apprehend those reprehensive. We know that this is a very small segment of the population and that the people of Israel overwhelmingly reject and denounce their actions. However, these acts provide fodder for those who seek to denigrate and delegitimize the State of Israel.”

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Preceding provided by the Anti-Defamation League and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations