One of the torched cars
צילום: alarab.net
3 arrested for torching Arab cars in Safed
Two young men, teenager deny allegations; 'Death to Arabs' spray-painted on local college walls
A week after cars belonging to two Arab students were set on fire in Safed, the Magistrate's Court in the northern city allowed police to report that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
Additional details of the investigation are still under a gag order, as are the suspects' identities.
On March 16, a few days after five members of the same family were butchered in the Jewish settlement of Itamar, two vehicles belonging to Arab students were torched in Safed. In addition, the slogans "Death to Arabs", Kahane was right" and "Revenge" were spray-painted on the walls of the local college.
Shkara and Na'amneh near torched vehicle (Photo: Avihu Shapira)
The suspects – two young men and a teenager – were arrested a short while later. Since then, their remand has been extended a number of times.
The suspects' attorney, Lior Bar-Zohar, told Ynet "the investigation has just begun, and many of its findings have yet to be published. Clearly police have an interest in preventing a situation whereby the force is accused of not reacting to the events in Safed, and therefore demanded quick arrests. My clients are (innocent)."
Relations between Arabs and Jews in Safed have deteriorated since local Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu called on Jewish residents not to rent apartments to Arabs.
The cars that were torched belong to Salim Abu Shkara from the Galilee village of Maghar, and Ali Na'amneh of Arabeh. "We do not want a dispute between Jews and Arabs. In general, coexistence has been maintained at the college, and we have no intention of living here after our studies are completed," Shkara said Thursday.
Walid Ganayim, who also attends the Safed Academic College, told Ynet "we feel persecuted. This manifests itself in threats, cursing, and now – damage to property."
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