Calls on Settlement Leaders to Do More to Stop ‘Price Tag’ Terrorism
New York, NY, July 31, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the shocking terror attack apparently carried out by Israeli extremists in the Palestinian village of Duma, where Molotov cocktails were hurled at two houses, including that of the Dawabsheh family, resulting in the death of two-year-old Ali and in the severe wounding of his parents and brother.
Hateful graffiti, including “Long live Messiah the king,” “Revenge” and a “Star of David” were spray painted on the house’s walls – indicating that this incident was most likely a so-called “price tag” attack perpetrated by extremist Israeli Jews.
Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL National Director, and Carole Nuriel, Director of ADL’s Israel Office, issued the following statement:
Enough is enough. The murder of Ali Dawabsheh, apparently by Israeli extremist “price tag” activists is a shocking and senseless act of terrorism. For seven years, extremists have perpetrated acts of violence and hate, targeting mosques, churches, and private property. Now these unacceptable acts of hatred and unbridled zealotry have resulted in the murder of an innocent child.
There has been much condemnation by Israeli officials against these acts, and there is genuine outrage and condemnation of the attack on the Dawabsheh home. It is significant that Prime Minister Netanyahu called Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to condemn the act and said: “We must fight terrorism together regardless of which side it comes from.”
Expressions of outrage are no longer enough. The perpetrators of these crimes need to face specific, enhanced consequences for these despicable acts of hate and terrorism. Community and religious leaders must make unquestionably clear that any act of hate and violence is unacceptable, un-Jewish, and that anyone involved in such incidents will be shunned by the community, let alone prosecuted to the full extent of the law. They must take concrete steps to identify and root out extremist elements. They must model and educate about how to express political and social views through legitimate, democratic outlets.
ADL has repeatedly taken strong public positions on price tag attacks, and has called on law enforcement officials to investigate suspected incidents and prosecute those responsible, and encouraged prominent Israel political, religious and societal leaders to speak out against the underlying hatred and racism that motivates these hate crimes.