WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS ATTACK ON WEST BANK MOSQUE

WASHINGTON, U.S.A. - The White House on Tuesday strongly condemned an attack on a mosque in the West Bank which Palestinian security sources blamed on Jewish settlers. Attackers lit tires inside a mosque in Al-Mughayyir village, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) northeast of Ramallah, in the West Bank, which damaged prayer mats inside the building.
They also spray-painted anti-Arab slogans on the walls along with the words Alei Ayin, the name of a nearby settlement outpost demolished by Israeli police last week in an operation that sparked fierce clashes with the settlers.

• Hardline settlers have adopted what they call a "price tag" policy under which they attack Palestinians, their fields or villages, whenever the Israeli government takes measures to curb settlement construction.
• "The United States strongly condemns the attack on a mosque in the West Bank earlier today," National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said. "As we have long maintained, all sides must do all they can to prevent attacks and incitement of this kind.
• "We note the Israeli government's condemnation of this attack and call for the perpetrators to be held accountable."

The Palestinian Authority had called on the international community to firmly denounce what it termed as a "scandal" and hold Israel accountable.

Source: Agency