JERUSALEM (JTA) — A West Bank mosque was set on fire and nationalist slogans were painted on its walls.
The attack in the Jaba village, near Bethlehem, occurred early Wednesday morning. A mosque window was broken and a burning object was thrown inside. The interior walls and furniture were damaged.
Worshippers who arrived at the mosque at 4:30 a.m. saw the flames and put out the fire, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported.
Phrases spray-painted on the mosque’s outside walls included “we want the redemption of Zion” and “revenge.”
Residents of the village, located near the Gush Etzion bloc of Jewish settlements, blamed the arson attack on Jewish nationalists.
The attack occurred on the 21st anniversary on the Gregorian calendar of the massacre of 29 Palestinian worshippers at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron by a Jewish settler, Dr. Baruch Goldstein.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
