“Price-tag” vandals angry over the demolition of homes in the West Bank outpost
of Ma’aleh Rehavam targeted a historic Muslim cemetery in downtown Jerusalem
overnight Wednesday.
The vandals spray-painted the words “Ma’aleh
Rehavam,” “Price Tag” and Stars of David on 10 gravestones in the Muslim
cemetery on Agron Street next to the Mamilla mall.
By mid-morning, the
municipality’s anti-graffiti team had already worked to remove the spray
paint.
Police opened an investigation into the incident.
The term
“price-tag attack” refers to when right-wing extremists vandalize army or Arab
property whenever the IDF takes steps against settlements, to illustrate that
there is a “price” for anti-settlement activity.
The cemetery across from
Independence Park has Muslim graves dating to the 12th century, according to
activists trying to preserve the cemetery from development and the construction
of the Museum of Tolerance.
The vandals were angry about the demolition
of nine homes in the outpost of Ma’aleh Rehavam – located next to the settlement
of Nokdim in Gush Etzion – which is part of a Peace Now petition to evacuate six
West Bank outposts built without authorization.