Damage cause by fire in Lubban al-Sharqiya mosque on Tuesday
Photo: Reuters
Rabbis for Human Rights demand mosque fire probe
Following firefighters' estimate that West Bank mosque fire was result of arson, Israeli peace activists visit Palestinian village, denounce act
Dozens of Israeli peace activists on Friday visited the mosque that was allegedly torched by settlers in the Palestinian village of Lubban al-Sharqiya earlier this week.
The Israelis, members of the Rabbis for Human Rights and the Combatants for Peace organizations met with residents of the village and representatives from the Palestinian Authority and Fatah movement.
Members of the Fatah Central Committee and the governor of Nablus were present at the meeting.
Rabbi Barry Leff, head of the Rabbis for Human Rights directorate, said that whoever torched the mosque under the cover of the Jewish religion has no connection to Judaism, which rejects any damage to people and holy sites.
Combatants for Peace's Roni Segoly also spoke at the event, and said the Israelis visited the village in order to prove that there are those in the Israeli society who are different from the people who set fire to the mosque.
Following estimates that the fire at the mosque was indeed the result of arson, Rabbis for Human Rights reiterated its demand that the IDF carry out a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
"The arson of a mosque is a serious incident on all levels, and, particularly when it includes the stacking of Qurans in one pile and adding the shoes used by worshippers at the site, it is very serious and we therefore demand a comprehensive probe. We especially demand the defense establishment and the law enforcement bodies review the security tapes from the IDF watchtowers that overlook the mosque in order to identify the perpetrators of this crime."
