Israeli settlers torch West Bank mosques, leave retaliation graffiti
by Danielle Haynes · UPIJuly 26 (UPI) -- Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques and multiple vehicles and attacked Palestinians in the West Bank this weekend after a deadly clash earlier in the week, Israeli and Palestinian officials confirmed Sunday.
The attacks happened overnight Saturday in multiple Palestinian towns and villages, including the village of Qusra, where one of the mosques was torched. Footage from the scene showed graffiti left on the Al-Rahma Mosque -- which was under construction -- in Hebrew reading "Benayahu's revenge" and other messages.
The Times of Israel reported the message was apparently a reference to Benayahu Mellet, a member of an Israeli settler security team killed in a confrontation Friday near the village of Tell that also left an Israeli service member and four Palestinians dead.
The BBC reported that both sides of the conflict blamed each other for provoking the violence.
Qusra Mayor Abdul Azim Wadi told WAFA, the Palestinian Authority's official news outlet, that the fire damaged materials and equipment at the construction site. No injuries were reported.
A second mosque was set ablaze and vandalized with graffiti in the village of Kour.