Leftist rally in Shimon Hatzaddik
Leftist rally in Shimon HatzaddikFlash 90

A memorial for fallen Israeli paratroopers was defaced with graffiti by vandals in the neighborhood of Shimon Hatzaddik on Monday. 

The words "Allahu Akbar" [God is the greatest] were the words sprayed in Arabic on the Israel Defense Forces' memorial.

"Vandalism like this is an indication to the level of rising violence," said Chairman of Yad LeBanim, Eli Ben-Shem, who heads the organization for families of fallen soldiers. 

"The State of Israel, and especially the police, must put an end to the repeated acts of vandalism of monuments," Ben-Shem added, "it is important to catch the perpetrators and punish them to the full extent of the law. We can and must do more."

As of yet, police have not apprehended the vandals, according to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, but an investigation is underway. Jerusalem police have said they suspect that this incident is in revenge for the damage of Arab vehicles in the neighborhood. 

Early Sunday morning, two Jewish teens were arrested under suspicion of damaging eight Arab vehicles in the Shimon Hatzaddik neighborhood. 

The Shimon Hatzaddik neighborhood in Jerusalem has often been the site of clashes between Jewish residents and Arab and foreign activists, with residents complaining of violence and incitement by Arab and leftist-wing extremists, who have repeatedly targeted the small Jewish population in the area. 

Residents of the area say that many incidents occur often in the neighborhood and can be attributed to a failure by police to patrol the area properly, and for failing to arrest Arabs who commit crimes.