West Bank mosque torched in suspected 'price-tag' hate attack
Star of David, biblical phrases scrawled on wall of West Bank mosque set ablaze in hate crime attack.
A Palestinian mosque in the West Bank was attacked overnight Tuesday in what appears to be yet another possible 'price tag' hate crime attack by extremists settlers.
Palestinian residents say that a mosque in Jab'a, near Bethlehem, was set on fire Tuesday night and sprayed with Hebrew-language graffiti. The mosque sustained some damage, and according to local residents, Jewish settlers were seen near the mosque.
Biblical phrases and a Star of David were spray-painted onto the structure, reinforcing claims it was Jewish settlers behind the attack. The IDF said it was investigating.
No one was hurt in the overnight attack in Al-Jaba'ah village near Bethlehem, during which the mosque's windows were broken and something burning was thrown inside, Mayor No'man Hamdan said.
"God's mercy and people's alertness when the fire started prevented it from consuming the entire mosque. Part of the carpets burned," he told Reuters.
Hebrew graffiti was left on the walls that read "we want the redemption of Zion" and "revenge" alongside a Jewish Star of David.
Jewish vandals have targeted mosques, churches, Palestinian vehicles, dovish Israeli groups and even IDF military bases in so called "price tag" attacks to protest Israeli government actions against settler activity.
Roi Yanovski, the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
