Arab MK: Arabs should form watch groups against price tag attacks

Price tag attacks are carried out by extreme Jewish-Israelis who believe they are exacting retribution for alleged terror acts committed by Arabs.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Graffiti in Arab village of Jish in suspected 'price tag' attack on February 11, 2020. (photo credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Graffiti in Arab village of Jish in suspected 'price tag' attack on February 11, 2020.
(photo credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Arabs in Israel should form their own unarmed civil guard units to defend their communities against “price-tag” attacks and Arab criminal acts, MK Mansour Abbas said on Tuesday.
He suggested that the guard should be composed of unarmed volunteers who would function in full cooperation with the police.
“We must take responsibility over our own lives and communities,” he said.
Abbas is the head of the United Arab List, which is the political wing of the southern branch of the Islamic Movement, and his party is part of the Joint List.
This comes after dozens of tires were slashed and graffiti was uncovered in the Arab village of Jish in northern Israel on Tuesday.
The graffiti read “Jews wake up” and “Stop assimilating.”
Following the incident, police issued a statement saying that forces are on the scene investigating and searching for the suspects, who fled.
“Israel Police considers severely and condemns all nationalist hate crimes, and will use all its means to identify and bring the suspects to justice,” the statement added.
Jish has about 3,000 residents (data from 2014), over half of whom are Maronite Christians, while about 35% are Muslim and 10% Catholic.
Politicians from the entire political spectrum condemned the act.
Joint List MK Ofer Cassif said on Twitter: “this morning, another hate crime against the Arab public at the hand of right-wing extremists was discovered. We all know that such a case in a Jewish village would receive immediate attention from the prime minister and quick arrests, so the clear conclusion is that Netanyahu condones hate crimes and gives green light to perpetrators.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: “I strongly condemn the graffiti and property damage in the village of Jish. We will find the violators of the law and bring them to justice. We do not accept any attack against our citizens.”