Racist Graffiti Sprayed, Cars Vandalized in West Bank Palestinian Village

Among the spray-painted statements was 'I cannot sleep while blood is shed here' and 'Jews, wake up'

Dec 18, 2018

One of the vandalized cars, Kfar Yasuf, West Bank, December, 2018.Credit: Yasuf Council

Dec 18, 2018

Twenty-four cars were vandalized and racist graffiti was sprayed painted on homes in Kfar Yasuf, a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank, residents said on Tuesday.

Among the spray-painted statements was "I cannot sleep while blood is shed here" and "Jews, wake up," which was also found scrawled on a wall last week in the town of Beitin. West Bank police forces are investigating the latest incident.

Jason Greenblatt, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, issued a rare statement last Monday denouncing Jewish extremist violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. Greenblatt tweeted on his official account that while Palestinian terror attacks are “unconscionable,” there is no justification for violence against Palestinian civilians in response.

Hateful graffiti sprayed on a wall in Kfar Yasuf, West Bank, December, 2018.Credit: Yasuf Council

"The recent Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israelis are unconscionable. But throwing rocks at vehicles who have nothing to do with these attacks is NOT a legitimate response. Innocent people could be killed," Greenblatt tweeted.

Earlier, Greenblatt criticized posters that right-wing activists had hung up around the West Bank, calling for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to be assassinated. Both sides should have a dialog of peace, not violence, he said.

This month has seen at least three incidents of hateful acts against Palestinians. Last Wednesday, cars were vandalized and graffiti was sprayed in Yefia, a village near Nablus; on Tuesday much the same happened at Beitin; and earlier in the month, the tires of dozens of cars were spiked in Kafr Qasem.