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Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has slammed Israel for failing to bring to account Jewish settlers responsible for a recent wave of vandalism against Palestinian property in the occupied West Bank.
"The Israeli government has never brought settlers to account for the terrorism and intimidation they commit [against Palestinians]," Hamdallah said during a tour of the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in Nablus, which was torched by Jewish settlers on Tuesday.
"Instead, it [the Israeli government] turns a blind eye, allowing settlers to kill, burn agricultural land and assault Palestinians and their property – even mosques and churches," the Palestinian premier added.
He went on to urge the international community to protect Palestinians from settler violence and pressure Israel to stop committing violations against occupied East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque.
"The [Al-Aqsa] complex is being portioned… while Muslim worshippers are harassed and assaulted by Israeli police," Hamdallah asserted.
Eyewitnesses said Tuesday that a group of Jewish settlers had smashed the doors and windows of the mosque in Nablus and sprayed racist graffiti on the walls of the building, which they later set on fire.
One of the phrases spray-painted on the mosque was "Price Tag," Hamdallah said, suggesting the attack was linked to a string of assaults by Jewish extremists who have recent targeted Christian and Muslim houses of worship, both in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
A number of Palestinian vehicles and farms were recently torched, while mosques and churches have been spray-painted – with the Jewish Star of David symbol and racist phrases – in apparent retaliation for perceived threats to Israeli settlement expansion.
While the incidents have drawn public condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli authorities have so far failed to take any action.
Palestinian officials, for their part, say such incidents often transpire as Israeli troops and police look on.
According to recent statements by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a Palestinian draft U.N. Security Council resolution will seek to achieve a "two-state solution," providing Palestinians with a sovereign state established within the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
By Qais Abu Samra
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en - Ramallah
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