MKs call for release of man arrested for sarcastic arson ‘incitement’

Arab-Israeli lawmakers are calling for the immediate release of a resident of the predominantly Bedouin town of Rahat in southern Israel, who was arrested on suspicion of inciting arson on his Facebook page.

Arab lawmakers Ahmad Tibi and Ayman Odeh of the Joint (Arab) List party say the police misunderstood the Facebook post that led to the man’s arrest.

The Facebook Post, read by The Times of Israel, was written in overly dramatic language, and meant to be sarcastic derision of those actually doing the incitement.

In the post, he calls for a boycott of Turkey for helping Israel to put out the fire, and calls for hooligans to make sure fires burn every forest in Israel.

At the bottom of the post, the writer concludes with a hashtag “Sarcasm, not serious.”

The man arrested has a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s degree in communications and teaches photography to youths in his town.

Odeh said he is working to gain the release of other Arabs he believes were unjustly arrested in connection to suspected arson attacks in Israel that have led to massive fires sweeping across northern and central Israel.

“Only during dark times in history, such as in the old days in Europe, are minorities blamed unjustly, before the facts and truth are checked,” Odeh said in a statement.

There is no immediate response from police.

— Dov Lieber