Car torched in East Jerusalem in suspected anti-Arab hate crime

A car was torched in East Jerusalem overnight Thursday-Friday and “Death to the Arabs” graffiti was found nearby in what police are investigating as a possible anti-Arab hate crime.

Firefighters were called to Beit Safafa overnight when the vehicle went up in flames.

Police then discovered Hebrew-language vandalism in the area, including the words “price tag” daubed on a wall, along with “death to the Arabs.”

Firefighters extinguish a torched car in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Safafa. January 26, 2018 (Israel Police)

“Price tag” refers to vandalism and other hate crimes carried out by Jewish ultra-nationalists ostensibly in retaliation for government policies perceived as hostile to the settler movement. Mosques, churches, dovish Israeli groups and even Israeli military bases have been targeted by nationalist vandals in recent years.

The acts have been condemned by Israeli leaders across the political spectrum.

In June, cars belonging to Beit Safafa residents had their tires slashed, and a nearby wall was spray-painted with the words “price tag” and “Kahane was right” — invoking the name of slain far-right Israeli activist Rabbi Meir Kahane.