Abbas: Mosque arson 'threatens renewal of peace process'

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday blamed hardline Jewish settlers for a fire that gutted a West Bank mosque, saying it threatened US-brokered efforts to revive the peace process.

"President Abbas condemns the burning of the mosque in Lubban ash-Sharqiya by extremist settlers and said the responsibility for this criminal attack lies with the Israeli government because the Israeli army protects the settlers," his office said in a statement. (AFP)