Extremist Jewish settlers last night set a mosque on fire and sprayed racist graffiti on its walls in the village of Beit Safafa, southwest of Jerusalem, according to witnesses.
A group of Jewish settlers sneaked into the village before predawn, torched Al-Badriya Mosque causing partial damages to it. The settlers also spray racist slogans on its walls, such as “death to Arabs” and “death to Palestinians”.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Awqaf, in charge of running mosques affairs, condemned the attack as a “heinous crime which is evidence of the brutality of the Israeli racist incitement machine towards Islamic and Christian sanctities in Palestine.”
“This crime is a blatant attack on Muslims and their feelings,” the Ministry added in a statement.
Many Palestinian activists and rights groups have repeatedly blamed Israel for fostering a “culture of impunity” for Jewish settlers committing acts vandalism against Palestinians, mosques and private property.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
Over 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.
