JERUSALEM, June 19, 2012 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers set fire late Monday night to a mosque in Jaba’, a village northeast of Jerusalem, causing damage in what appears to be the latest case of vandalism by Jewish settlers of Muslim houses of worship, according local sources.

The settlers also wrote slogans in Hebrew on the mosque wall indicating that their act was to avenge Israeli government plans to evict settlers from Ulpana outpost built on private Palestinian land in the illegal settlement of Beit El near Ramallah.

“Price Tag,” said one slogan in reference to acts by the settlers, and “Ulpana war,” said another.

The settlers avenge their government action against them by attacking Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and vandalizing their places of worship and property, including cutting down trees, burning crops and throwing rocks at homes and cars.

Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh strongly condemned the mosque arson holding the Israeli government fully responsible for what he described as ‘belligerent” acts by settlers against Palestinian civilians.

He said this indicates that the Israeli government is not serious about keeping security in the region.

Commenting on the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s condemnation of the arson, Abu Rudeineh said the mere condemnation is not enough, adding that Israel should act to stop these acts and prosecute the perpetrators.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the arson. It said in a statement that the Israeli government-backed violent practices by settlers against Palestinian places of worship is a call for “a religious war” and ruins chances to revive negotiations and peace.

R.Q./M.S.