JERUSALEM (JTA) — At a square in Israel named for Donald Trump, a protest of Israel’s annexation plans for parts of the West Bank had water in the fountain turning blood red.
The Hebrew words for “Annexation will cost us in blood” also were found painted in red on the ground at the site in Petach Tikvah, near Tel Aviv, on Monday morning.
Donald Trump Square was inaugurated a year ago to thank Trump for his support of Israel, especially the president’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The square is located near the city’s municipal building and includes a fountain with an illuminated sculpture incorporating the Israeli and American flags.
The vandalism comes two days before the July 1 date set by the Israeli government coalition partners as the earliest that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can begin annexing parts of the West Bank as provided for in the Trump administration’s peace plan unveiled earlier this year. The Palestinians have wholly rejected the plan, which provides for a Palestinian state on the remaining 70% of the West Bank land.
“The incident in Trump Square this morning is a bullying act of vandalism that mainly says what kind of person did this,” the Petach Tikvah municipality said in a statement.
Mayor Rami Greenberg ordered security camera footage from the square to be reviewed. A complaint also has been filed with the police.
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