Muslim Prophet Insulted in Jerusalem Vandalism Attack

Suspected Jewish extremists burned two cars belonging to Arabs in east Jerusalem on Monday and scrawled graffiti blaspheming the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, residents said.

The residents said cars in the neighborhood of Beit Aksa had been vandalized in the past, but it was the first time they had seen graffiti insulting the prophet there.

An Agence France Presse photographer saw the words "Mohammed is a pig" spray-painted on the wall of a nearby mosque shortly after the early-morning attack.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said later on Monday they had not yet received reports of the apparent hate crime.

Jewish extremist vandalism attacks in east Jerusalem -- a regular occurrence in Arab neighborhoods near Jewish settlements -- often feature the words "price tag" spray-painted at the scene of the crime.

"Price tag" is the expression used by perpetrators for vandalism and more serious attacks carried out in pursuit of their hardline agenda.

Such attacks were initially carried out against Palestinians in retaliation for state moves to dismantle unauthorized settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, but have since become a much broader phenomenon, with racist and xenophobic overtones.

Christian holy sites, Israeli peace activists and even the Israeli army have been targeted.

In a price tag attack in September last year, vandals wrote "Jesus is a monkey" on the wall of a Trappist monastery in Latrun, outside Jerusalem.