RAMALLAH — Extremist Jewish settlers early Tuesday carried a “price tag” attack near the West Bank city of Hebron, Israeli and Palestinian sources said. The Palestinian sources said that the vandals set fire to two cars belonging to resident Mohammed Khamees Ma'ali in the village of Deir Jarir to the northeast of Ramallah. The sources added that several residents witnessed the settlers escaping the area early in the morning. The sources said that the settlers spray-painted the slogans “Jewish blood will not be forfeit” and “price tag” on a nearby wall. Israeli police opened an investigation into the incident. No arrests were reported. “Price tag” refers to acts of vandalism and violence perpetrated by extremist Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians in the West Bank but also Christian sites, usually carried out in retaliation to the evacuation of West Bank settlements by Israeli forces. In the West Bank, there are more than 500,000 Jewish settlers who live with 2.5 million Palestinians. Tension has been always on between the two sides that usually turn into violence. Initially carried out in retaliation for Israeli moves to dismantle unauthorized settler outposts, the attacks tend to target Palestinian property. The perpetrators are rarely caught. A spokeswoman for the Israeli army said that following Palestinian reports, “security personnel searched the area and found one burnt car and one damaged car. Graffiti was also discovered in the area. The incident was under review.” “These actions, which divert IDF (Israel Defense Forces) attention from its primary goal of maintaining security and stability are regarded as a severe event by the IDF,” she added.
