Settlers Vandalize and Set Fire to West Bank Mosque

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11/12/2009 Radical settlers vandalized and set fire to a mosque in a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said Friday. Israeli officials confirmed that assailants had vandalized the mosque, and the Civil Administration has launched an investigation.

Israeli occupation army officers in the West Bank have expressed concerned that settlers may escalate their acts of opposition to the temporary freeze on settlement construction by targeting the Palestinian population.

The attack took place in the village of Yasuf, near the Samaria town of Salfit. According to reports, the perpetrators set fire to a carpet and to a library in the mosque's second floor, destroying holy books. They also sprayed abusive statements in Hebrew on the walls. Graffiti messages included "Prepare for the price tag" and "We will burn all of you."

Settler extremists have recently attacked Palestinians and their property in response to the Israeli government's decision to freeze settlement construction. They have dubbed the attacks the "price tag" policy.

Following the incident, Civil Administration head Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai spoke with the Palestinian governor of Salfit and was coordinating the handling of the case with him. Israeli officials said they viewed the attack with severity.

MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List - Ta'al) said after the attack that "Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the army bear responsibility for this crime and for the continued riot wild behavior of settlers against Palestinians."

Meanwhile, far-right activist Itamar Ben-Gvir laid the blame on Barak and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying their decision to stop construction in the West Bank was causing anger and unrest. "Netanyahu must freeze these racist edicts to calm the atmosphere," he said.

In an apparent attempt to placate settlers over the construction slowdown, Netanyahu has proposed including tens of thousands of settlers, including many living in isolated settlements deep in the West Bank, in a government program that bestows monetary incentives on residents and businesses.

The move has drawn criticism from Netanyahu's coalition partner, the Labor Party, which has indicated it will vote against the move at a Cabinet meeting next week.