PA: Mosque attack is declaration of war

Abbas's spokesman reacts to apparent "price tag" arson attack; "Mitzpe Yitzhar" and "war" sprayed on W. Bank mosque.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, GREER FAY CASHMAN
Mosque attack in Kfar Burka 311 (photo credit: Courtesy of Btselem)
Mosque attack in Kfar Burka 311
(photo credit: Courtesy of Btselem)
The Palestinian Authority on Thursday condemned the torching of the mosque in the village of Burka, 6 km. east of, saying the settlers have declared war on the Palestinians.
PA officials said they were studying the possibility of establishing “popular committees” that would be entrusted with patrolling Palestinian villages to prevent attacks by settlers.
Nabil Abu Rudaineh, spokesman for the PA, said the Israeli government was responsible for the recurring settler attacks and called on the international community to intervene to them.
Senior PA officials who visited the mosque said that it would be renovated soon.

Nabil Sha’ath, a member of the Fatah central committee, also accused the government and the IDF of inciting settlers to attack Palestinians.
“We strongly condemn the continued attacks by settlers against our people and their property and holy sites,” Sha’ath said.
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Hamas warned that Palestinians would not remain idle in the face of recent attacks on mosques in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
“Our people won’t be intimidated by Israeli policies,” Hamas said. “The Zionist enemy’s war on holy sites is a flagrant violation of international conventions and religious beliefs.”