West Bank Mosque Hit With Attempted Arson in Possible Hate Crime

Unknown vandals attempted to set a West Bank mosque on fire overnight Thursday, in a possible hate crime against Palestinians.

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The incident took place in the village of Aqraba, north of Nablus, and saw the words "Death" and "Price tag" daubed on the mosque’s external walls. No one was hurt in the incident.

West Bank mosque targeted by unknown vandals in suspected hate crime in village of Aqraba, near Nablus, April 13 2018 Zachariah Sade

Referred to in Israel as “price-tag attacks”, the attacks are wanton reprisals undertaken by extremist Jews in response to Palestinian violence against Israelis or government curbs on unauthorized West Bank settlement building. Two such possible cases were reported at the beginning of this month.

The damage to the mosque was limited and locals said that because it did not have a large carpet as is sometimes customary the entire structure did not catch fire.

The village of Aqraba is a relatively small community, with a few hundred residents, mostly farmers. None reported any damage to their property or lands ahead of the incident – which seems restricted to the mosque.

In a security camera recording of the incident, two vandals wearing hoodies can be seen starting the fire and fleeing the scene.

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