News / Middle East

Israeli Settlers Suspected of Setting Fire in West Bank Mosque

Palestinians inspect the damage following a fire inside a mosque in the West Bank village of al-Mughayyir, near Ramallah, June 7, 2011
TEXT SIZE - +

Officials say suspected Israeli settlers have set fire to a tire inside a mosque in the West Bank, and spray painted a message on the building's walls referring to a nearby settler outpost.

The fire was discovered Tuesday in the village of al-Mughayyir.  Officials say the damage was limited to some prayer rugs inside.

Authorities said the vandals painted the words "price tag" and "Aley Ayin" on the walls.  Aley Ayin is a small unauthorized settler outpost that was demolished by Israeli authorities last week.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians stalled last September, partly due to Palestinian objections to Israeli settlement construction on land they want as part of a future state.

Israeli government officials announced plans last month to build about 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem.  The units will be on land that Israel annexed after the 1967 war.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

 

Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter
and discuss them on our Facebook page.

You May Like

Video Egypt's Conservative Rural Vote Appears Split

Early speculation after the first two-day round is showing a race too close to call More

NATO Continues Plans for Missile Defense

While Afghanistan dominated talks in Chicago, member states also reaffirmed their commitment to ballistic-missile defense More

War Declared on Invasive Leaping Asian Carp

When Asian carp were first imported decades ago, few foresaw their environmental impact. More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one
Middle East Voices

Middle East Monitor: Speculating Who is Ahead in Egypt

More

Egypt’s Mohamed Morsi Appears to Take Early Election Lead

More

Morsi, Shafiq Emerging as Possible Frontrunners in Egypt Presidential Poll

More
Read more