Two students from the Maor Yehuda yeshiva in Jerusalem were arrested Monday on suspicion of threatening to hurt Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al ).
The two, aged 18, admitted that they had called Tibi's cell phone several times, cursed him and threatened to physically harm him.
Tibi complained about two weeks ago that a message left on his assistant's voicemail said, "You dirty Arab, your end will come. Your days are numbered, you dog." The message included a series of curses and abusive comments.
Police detectives managed to locate the two suspects, one of whom was brought before a judge and released home under restrictions. The second suspect was to be brought before a judge at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court. A police official said additional arrests were expected.
Following the threats against Tibi, members of the Knesset's Arab factions said that given the hostile public atmosphere which followed the Gaza flotilla raid ,they felt more threatened than ever.
"This is the rightist Knesset members' fault, for creating an adverse atmosphere which gives everyone a free reign to express animosity towards the Arab leadership. We are facing times like never before," said MK Tibi.