The residents of Tuba Zangaria who woke up Monday to find a burned down mosque can take comfort in one thing: The entire Jewish spectrum of opinion was horrified by this act.
With the exception of the graffiti left on the mosque’s wall, we did not read or hear Monday even one justification in Hebrew to the arson in the north. Hence, it is quite clear that the fire at the mosque represents, more or less, the people who torched it with their own hands: A small, thuggish and childish group.
It is impossible that a mature adult would believe that setting fire to an Arab prayer house in the Galilee constitutes revenge for the murder of Jews near Hebron.
Only people who are detached from the Israeli experience can amuse themselves with the thought that they are taking revenge on something when Korans are burning. People who are in touch with reality should have guessed that immediately after word of the arson got out we will hear frank cries of wall-to-wall condemnation around here.
Arab Israelis would be wise if they make do with this all-out condemnation and go back to routine. They must know that there is no basis to hints from the Left that the police and Shin Bet do not invest a genuine effort in capturing the arsonists. There is no doubt that the Price Tag gang, on both sides of the Green Line, is now a major challenge for our law enforcement agencies.
A rightist problem
The IDF Central Command chief estimated on Rosh Hashana eve that we are dealing with a well-organized underground group. If this estimate is based on solid intelligence information we cannot argue with it, yet this assessment apparently reflects a misguided gut feeling.
Any zealous teenager with matches and a paintbrush can set fire somewhere and claim responsibility on behalf of “price tag.” The only thing that connects all these angry boys is fury and frustration based on a rightist worldview. The Gaza disengagement tampered with their logic and it hasn’t been mended since. Six years after the destruction of Gush Katif, they are still seeking revenge.
Of course, it is always possible to blame the entire rightist camp, or at least most rabbis – however, that would constitute ridiculous libel. The Price Tag gang’s desire for revenge is first and foremost a major rightist problem. Instead of engaging in a fierce debate with its rivals on the issues of land and peace, the rightist establishment is forced to repeatedly resort to harsh condemnations of attacks on mosques.
When the arsonists will finally be arrested, the sigh of relief among members of the Yesha Council will be heard all the way to Tuba Zangaria.
Yoel Meltzer is a freelance writer living in Jerusalem. His personal blog is http://yoelmeltzer.com [2]
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