Second south Tel Aviv apartment firebombed in two weeks

Attack on African asylum-seekers comes days after arrests for a similar incident last month

An apartment in south Tel Aviv rented by a group of African asylum-seekers was firebombed late Saturday night, the second such incident in as many weeks.

Several Molotov cocktails were used in the attack, which damaged the apartment but resulted in no injuries.

The latest incident, in the Hatikva neighborhood of Tel Aviv, came just days after arrests were made relating to a similar fire-bombing incident in a nearby neighborhood in late April.

Police believe the attacks may have been organized by a local underground group that hopes to intimidate the Africans and force them to leave the area. They are investigating whether the attacks are linked.

Tensions have been running high recently in the south Tel Aviv area between the growing population of African asylum-seekers and Israeli residents.

Approximately 150 locals and MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) debated the situation in a neighborhood meeting last week.

Some of those gathered, including Ben Ari, called for the deportation of African refugees and for measures to be taken to reduce rising crime rates, while others voiced disgust at the racist acts of violence.

Many residents blame the violence on government inaction.

After the first attack in April, some 200 people gathered in south Tel Aviv to express solidarity with the asylum-seekers.

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