JERUSALEM (JTA) — Planning and carrying out “price tag” attacks in Israel will now be defined as “illegal organizing,” which puts the acts on the same level as Islamic terror groups.
The new designation announced Monday by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon means that the Jewish perpetrators of such violence would face the same legal repercussions as Palestinian terrorists.
The new designation will allow Israeli security services and police to hold suspects in jail longer, keep them under arrest until the end of legal proceedings and investigate without the presence of an attorney. Those who plan and fund price tag attacks will be subject to the same proceedings.
“Price tag perpetrators’ conduct is identical to the conduct of modern terrorist groups, including ideological inspiration and covert action,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement. “Its main objective is to prevent the legitimate Israeli government from carrying out actions, whether of state or regarding law enforcement, and to sow fear among the nation’s leaders of making decisions of one kind or another.”
The designation was approved last month by Israel’s Cabinet.
The announcement came Monday after the arrest of a 22-year-old right-wing Israeli from Bnei Brak for last year’s price tag attack on the Latrun Monastery.
