JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli police have launched an investigation to find perpetrators who vandalized cars and sprayed hate graffiti in an Arab town near Jerusalem.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says residents of Abu Ghosh found tires of 28 cars slashed and "Arabs out" scrawled on a wall early Tuesday.

Abu Ghosh generally enjoys good relations with its Jewish neighbors.

Once rare, there has been a steady stream of such incidents recently. Graffiti with the words "price tag" are usually found onsite. The phrase is usually used by a tiny fringe of Jewish extremists to protest what they perceive as the Israeli government's pro-Palestinian policies. The act is widely condemned by Israelis across the political spectrum.

Vandals have targeted mosques, churches, dovish Israeli groups and even Israeli military bases in apparent "price tag" attacks.