Police vow swift arrest of Jaffa vandals

As tension mount following acts of vandalism in Arab cemetery, synagogue, Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino vows to arrest vandals

Hassan Shaalan|Published: 10.09.11 , 23:50

Police officials on Sunday met with Jaffa community leaders and vowed to act swiftly in order to apprehend those responsible for the desecration of 25 tombstones, but Jaffa residents say they will not be reassured until the perpetrators are in custody.

Tensions in the multi-faith city mounted after unknown assailants hurled Molotov cocktails at a local synagogue in an apparent bid to retaliate against the act of vandalism.

Protest warning

In an earlier meeting, held without the presence of police representatives, Arab political and social activists as well as community leaders conveyed a harsher tone, saying that the police must nab the suspects quickly, otherwise Jaffa residents would stage mass protests and strikes.

"There is no way we will sit idle and let this go unnoticed," said Attorney Amir Badran, who represents the residents.

Following the meeting, Ajami neighborhood committee chairman Kamel Agabriya said "the music was pleasant, but we have had enough promises. The only thing that would testify to the seriousness of the police is results on the ground.

"It's time for the police to prove that there is no discrimination between Arabs and Jews, which means that it's time for people to get arrested," he said.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violent incidents in Jaffa, saying "Lately we have witnessed an attack on Muslim, Christian and Jewish sites; we will not tolerate any kind of vandalism, especially not when it's directed at religious sentiments."