Making a 2nd-hand car into an anti-Muslim weapon of hate
Extremists find new way to insult Muslims in Jerusalem
By Ma’an news
December 25, 2012
JERUSALEM – Extremists in Jerusalem have invented a bizarre new method to insult Palestinians and the Muslim religion.
“For Sale” signs placed on used cars around the city with phone numbers lead potential buyers to a recorded message profanely insulting Palestinians and the Prophet Muhammad.
Hamza Mahmoud, a resident of the Old City, told Ma’an that he and several others tried to call numbers they found on cars for sale and they heard racist insults and curses.
A Ma’an reporter tried one of the numbers and was led to a profane recording by a male speaking Arabic in a Hebrew accent. That number was 054-6032825.
Jerusalem-based journalist Jihad Zghayyer told Ma’an that he received complaints from residents saying they were tricked into calling in an attempt to buy cars, and the result was the same.
He highlighted that it was common to see such cars with “For Sale” signs on the main road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem where Palestinian workers frequently travel.
Palestinian residents complained about what they described as a racist phenomenon to lawyers and Arab members of Knesset.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri told Ma’an she was unaware of the issue and said the authorities would act only if they received a complaint from residents.
