Palestinians from the village of Urif in the West Bank reported that their tractor was torched on Monday night. Messages such as "price tag Bat Ayin" and "revenge for Arabs" were found sprayed near the tractor. A source at the community confirmed this was an act of revenge Wednesday.
Civil Administration inspectors recently handed out razing orders for several buildings in the settlement of Bat Ayin which may have prompted settlers to perform "price tag" attacks in the Palestinian village, situated south of the settlement of Yitzhar. Police launched an investigation.
Graffiti sprayed near tractor (Photo: B'Tselem)
Abdul Fatah Sabah, the brother of the tractor's owner told Ynet that his sister-in-law heard dogs barking at around 3 am. "She opened the window, and smelled burned rubber. She called a neighbor who saw the tractor's tire burning and managed to extinguish the fire with water."
According to Sabah, the neighbor later discovered two empty bottles reeking of gas. One of them was found on the tractor and the other inside the engine. "We called the Coordination Directorate and they immediately sent army forces. Their scan revealed graffiti sprayed on house and school walls reading 'price tag 11' and 'revenge for Arabs'."
He claimed this was not the first time vehicles in the village were burned.
A source at Bat Ayin confirmed this was a "price tag" act and claimed it was a legitimate response.
Sarit Michaeli, spokesperson for B'Tselem urged the police to hold a quick investigation. "This time the 'price tag' attack failed, but if the police fail to locate those responsible for it, the next attack may succeed."
Yair Altman contributed to this report