New York, NY, October 3, 2011 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today decried the arson attack on a mosque in the northern Arab Israeli village of Tuba-Zangariyye.  The mosque was vandalized with graffiti such as "price tag" and "revenge" -- indicative of Israeli Jewish extremists who have perpetrated similar attacks on mosques in the West Bank as a political protest.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: 

We join with the leadership and people of the State of Israel in expressing shock and outrage at this heinous attack.  As Israeli President Shimon Peres declared, this act is a fundamental contradiction "of the morals and spirit" of Israel, where "everyone has equal rights regardless of religion or nationality."  We welcome the announcement by Israeli police that they will enhance security near Muslim holy sites across Israel, and establish a special force to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators.  

 

However, as we have said after the attacks on West Bank mosques in recent months, Israeli society must do more.  There have already been too many "wake-up calls" about the violence and hatred among fringe groups of Israeli Jewish extremists.  Israeli society must make clear that violence is never acceptable, whatever the grievance, whatever the issue, and must continue to reinforce this core value of Israeli society.