In the Bedouin village of Ibtin near Haifa in northern Israel, the Omar Bin Khattab Mosque was defaced with graffiti, calling for the mosque’s “demolition.” The mosque was previously attacked by arsonists in 1988.
Media reports stated that the mosque had Hebrew graffiti which stated that the mosque was “slated for demolition,” with images of the Star of David painted on the mosque, as well as comments that stated “Price Tag,” and “War will break out in Judea and Sumaria.”
Vandalism of Omar-Bin-Khattab-Mosque (Photo: pls48.net and Yedioth Ahronoth)
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that police were investigating the incident, and stated that local individuals “suspect residents of nearby Rechasim community” in the vandalism. Yedioth Ahronoth also quoted Ibtin mosque keeper Muhammad Umriyeh (Mohammad Omaria), who had seen teenagers that stated they were from the Rechasim community, “When we started asking around someone said he saw three teens in the village center last night who wore yarmulkes. He asked them what they were doing and they said they were searching for a lost dog.” Haaretz reported that he also stated that “this is a serious crime that cannot be ignored.”
Israeli Minister of Minorities Avishay Braverman denounced the graffiti and vandalism stating that “This is an act of loathsome vandalism done by extremists with one aim — to harm the relations between Jews and Arabs.”
Graffiti on Omar Bin Khattab Mosque (Photo: pls48.net and Yedioth Ahronoth)
In April, there were reports of vandalism and destruction in the West Bank, including similar vandalism of the Bilal Ibn Rabah mosque in Huwwara, burning of vehicles, and attacks on a Muslim cemetery and other sites. In December 2009, there was an attack on the Kfar Yasuf Mosque,which led to arrests of Israeli settlers in December 2009 and in January 2010.
In 1965, the Bedouin village of Ibtin was created to provide a permanent settlement for the Bedouin in that area. Villagers are part of the Amria tribe.
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our unqualified, universal human rights. We defend freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship – for all people. We urge all, to Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.
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Update:
Jerusalem Post: “Mosque vandals ‘influenced by flotilla'”
— Jerusalem Post reports: “Four yeshiva youths arrested by police on Wednesday on suspicion of spraying graffiti on a mosque in the northern village of Ivteen ‘were influenced by the Gaza flotilla’ and ‘events in the West Bank,’ but do not appear to be part of an organized extremist cell, the detective leading the investigation told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.”
— “Officers from the Coastal police’s central arrested the four men, who study at a yeshiva at Kfar Hasidim, one day after a Star of David was spray painted on the mosque’s wall, as well as the messages, ‘There will be war over Judea and Samaria,’ and ‘This structure is marked for demolition.'”
Jerusalem Post publishes image of defacing of a mosque in West Bank with the story - stock image?
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Other Media Reports:
Haaretz: Mosque vandalized in Bedouin village near Haifa
Yedioth Ahronoth: Malicious graffiti sprayed on Ibtin mosque
Yedioth Ahronoth – Braverman: Mosque attack act of loathsome vandalism
JTA: Bedouin mosque vandalized
AP: Police: Mosque vandalized in northern Israel
AFP: Mosque desecrated in northern Israel
Ma’an News Agency: Mosque vandalized in northern Israel
Related Reports:
Attack on Bilal Ibn Rabah Mosque – Israel Army Condemns Mosque Vandalism
West Bank: Media Reports Allege Israeli Settlers Responsible for Arson Attack on Kfar Yasuf Mosque
Israel: Settler Teen Arrested Over West Bank Kfar Yasuf Mosque Arson
West Bank: 2 West Bank mosque arson suspects released to house arrest
