Tel Aviv – Molotov Cocktail Hits Jaffa Synagogue

Tel Aviv – A Molotov cocktail was hurled at a Jaffa synagogue Saturday evening, as tensions were rising in the central Israel town after two Arab cemeteries were vandalized over the weekend.

The firebomb hit the roof of the synagogue and did not cause significant damage. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Earlier, some 25 tombstones were vandalized at two Jaffa cemeteries belonging to Muslims and Christians. The messages “Death to Arabs” and “Price tag” were spray painted on the graves. Police later said that “Death to Russians” was another message painted at the site.

Meanwhile, some 150 Jewish and Arab Jaffa residents held an anti-racism rally Saturday night, where speakers issued harsh charges against Israel’s government and top leaders.

The head of the Islamic Movement in Jaffa, Sheikh Ahmed Abu Ajawa, told Channel 10 news that he had issued a call to all Arab groups in the city to “act with caution and avoid being dragged into a violent response.”

He described the incident as “an attempt by an extremist group to blackmail the Arab masses in the city.”

The Arab MK called for imprisoning Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on charges of incitement. “These little racists who come and spray paint a few slogans are much less dangerous than this dangerous government,” he said.

“The distance between racist words and acts is horrifically short,” Zahalka said, while slamming Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the settlers, and Lieberman.”The little racists who burned the mosque in Tuba Zangaria and attacked the cemeteries in Jaffa have spiritual fathers in the government.”

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police were looking “at a number of possibilities” regarding the cemetery defacement.

A separate investigation is underway into the Molotov cocktail attack, he added.