MK Moalem-Refaeli
MK Moalem-RefaeliIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Bayit Yehudi MK Shuli Moalem told her comrades in the Knesset Wednesday that contrary to much of the public discourse regarding the so-called “price tag” attacks believed to be carried out by Jews against Arabs, they do not meet the definition of terrorism.

"Puncturing tires is not terror,” Moalem said over the Knesset podium, and explained that comparing vandalism to terror cheapens the concept of terrorism.

There is a world of difference, she emphasized, between damaging the tires of a car – an act that does not involve an intent to hurt any person – and acts like throwing rocks and fire bombs, whose sole intent is to kill the people who are in the car.

"We must maintain a sense of proportion,” she said, but added that the acts cast a stain on all of the people who support the Jewish settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria.

MK Morlem was responding to a parliamentary motion by MK Michal Rosin (Meretz), who protested the fact that the security agencies do not intend to carry out enforcement against “price tag” perpetrators outside of Judea and Samaria – while they act against Arab terrorism throughout Israel.

Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis responded in the name of the prime minister and said that the price tag attacks are deplorable and unexplainable.

He said that the government sees the attacks as nationalistic crimes, and noted that a special police unit has been established to deal with them.