From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 17, 2025
Teen paid by ‘foreign entity’ arrested over ‘hostile’ graffiti in West Bank settlements
The Israel Police says a 17-year-old has been arrested after police received complaints of “threatening” graffiti in several locations in the West Bank settlement bloc of Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem.
Police say the graffiti included the phrases “Children of Ruhollah” — a reference to Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran — and “Occupiers of Khaybar,” a reference to a region in today’s Saudi Arabia that was purged of Jews by Arabs some 1,400 years ago.
Police say the messages were intended to “convey a hostile and threatening message toward Israelis.”
“After a rapid investigation,” the statement reads, “a 17-year-old suspect was located. The spray paint used for the graffiti was seized in his possession, and during the investigation, the suspect confessed to the acts.”
The police statement adds that the investigation “revealed that a foreign party contacted the minor through the Telegram app and assigned him various tasks in exchange for payment in cryptocurrency. ”
“It also emerged during the investigation that the same party suggested that the suspect commit additional serious offenses, including setting fire to vehicles and burning electrical and communications infrastructure.”
“The investigation is continuing to examine all the circumstances and additional parties involved,” the statement concludes.
