An arson attack on a mosque in Israel's north this week escalated into a two-day rioting spree increasing the security services' fears of extreme right-wing violence.
The arsonists set light to the mosque in the village of Tuba Zangaria in the Upper Galilee in the early hours of Monday morning, causing major damage to the building's interior and burning hundreds of Korans and other prayer-books.
Graffiti daubed on the walls outside announced it was a "price tag" attack, "revenge" for the deaths of Asher Palmer and his 11-month-old son in the West Bank two weeks ago, when their car crashed after being stoned by Palestinians.
"Price tag" is the description used by a small group of extreme Jewish settlers for attacks they make on Palestinian property and recently also for reprisals against Israeli military vehicles. The "price tag" attacks are usually carried out following demolitions of illegal settler outposts and also after terror attacks on settlers. While there is no evidence yet that this attack was actually carried out by Jewish activists, the police and Shin Bet believe that to be the case. If so, this is the first time a "price tag" attack has been carried out within the Green Line and not in the West Bank.
