Jerusalem, August 8, 2007 …The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed outrage at reports of an apparent hate crime in a village in the Galilee.  Allegedly, a house rented to a Druze man and his Romanian-born Christian wife was set on fire following threats from local Jewish villagers that they were not wanted in the community. The community of Moshav Tefahot had reportedly welcomed the couple until they discovered they were not Jewish. Community members reportedly said they only want religiously observant Jews living there. Tiberius Police said the attacks appeared racist because of the husband's ethnicity.

The Israel office of the ADL issued the following statement:

We condemn this hateful attack. None of us can afford to be bystanders in the face of this kind of blatant bigotry and violence. We commend the Tiberius police for taking it seriously and we anticipate a prompt and thorough investigation. All communities must speak out and teach our children that hate against one is hate against all.

Perpetrators of hate crimes send a message to their victims – and everyone else who shares the victim's characteristics – that minorities are not welcome or safe. We strongly condemn this intolerance.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.