Mosque Burned in West Bank Amid Israeli Settlers Violence/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli settlers torched a mosque and defaced it with hateful messages in a West Bank village, just one day after Israeli military leaders condemned recent settler attacks. The act reflects growing lawlessness and impunity among settlers, according to rights groups. Officials have issued rare condemnations, but accountability remains elusive.
West Bank Mosque Torched: Quick Looks
- Mosque in Deir Istiya set on fire by Israeli settlers
- Hate graffiti scrawled in Hebrew, referencing military officials
- Incident follows military condemnation of recent settler violence
- Copies of the Quran and prayer rugs burned inside mosque
- U.S. and Israeli leaders express concern over West Bank unrest
- Rare criticism issued by President Herzog and army chief Zamir
- Attacks seen as part of broader campaign to displace Palestinians
- Settler outposts expanding under Netanyahu’s far-right government
- Rights groups say settler violence rarely results in prosecution
- UN reports record-high settler attacks since 2006
Mosque Burned in West Bank Amid Israeli Settlers Violence
Deep Look
DEIR ISTIYA, West Bank — Israeli settlers torched a mosque overnight in the Palestinian village of Deir Istiya and left behind hate-filled graffiti, just a day after senior Israeli military leaders publicly condemned settler violence. The attack added to a surge of incidents across the occupied West Bank, heightening tensions and drawing rare public rebukes from Israeli and U.S. officials.
When Associated Press journalists arrived at the scene Thursday morning, they found a charred wall, scorched copies of the Quran, and smoldering carpet inside the mosque.
Outside, graffiti in Hebrew was sprayed along the building, with messages including “We are not afraid,” “We will revenge again,” and “Keep on condemning.” Some of the slogans appeared to target Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, the Israeli Central Command chief who had issued a rare denunciation of settler actions just one day prior.
Israeli soldiers were on-site but did not comment on the incident. The Israeli military has yet to release an official response.
This attack comes amid escalating settler aggression and growing international concern. On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the violence could destabilize regional efforts in Gaza.
“There’s concern about events in the West Bank spilling over and creating an effect that could undermine what we’re doing in Gaza,” he said.
Wave of Violence and Rare Condemnations
The mosque attack follows a particularly brazen act of violence earlier in the week, when dozens of masked Israeli settlers descended on the Palestinian villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf. They set fire to vehicles and other property before fleeing to an industrial area and attacking responding soldiers. Four settlers were arrested, and four Palestinians were injured.
President Isaac Herzog, whose position is primarily ceremonial, called the attacks “shocking and serious.” He emphasized the responsibility of the state to respond firmly, writing, “All state authorities must act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon.”
Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir echoed Herzog’s remarks, describing the perpetrators as a “minority of criminals” whose actions violate Israeli values and distract from the military’s primary missions. “We will not tolerate violence by settlers,” Zamir said, adding that such actions “divert the attention of our forces.”
Despite these statements, critics remain skeptical. Three of the four suspects arrested in the earlier attacks were released the following day. The fourth, a minor accused of arson and assault, remains in custody for now.
A Pattern of Impunity
Attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and their property have been increasing for years. Deir Istiya’s mosque was previously vandalized in 2012 and again in 2014, according to the U.S. State Department and the Anti-Defamation League. Now, it has become a symbol of a broader failure to curb settler violence.
The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that October marked the highest-ever number of settler attacks recorded in the West Bank since tracking began in 2006. Human rights groups and Palestinians allege that such violence is part of a deliberate effort to force Palestinian communities off their land.
The U.N. estimates that over 3,500 Palestinians have been displaced since 2023 due to settler violence or related access restrictions — a steep rise from previous years.
Settler Expansion and Government Support
Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government, settlers have aggressively expanded into new areas beyond previously recognized settlements. These new “young settlements” often consist of makeshift farms or outposts placed closer to Palestinian towns, frequently resulting in the seizure of land and water resources from Palestinian villagers.
The Israeli government includes several key figures who are vocal supporters of the settler movement. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who plays a central role in settlement policy, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the police, have both been accused of enabling or ignoring settler violence.
According to Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization that monitors settler violence, about 94% of cases opened by Israeli police from 2005 to 2024 ended without an indictment. Only 3% led to any kind of conviction.
Mounting Pressure, Little Accountability
Rights advocates argue that the Israeli military and police routinely fail to intervene during settler attacks, and when arrests are made, they rarely lead to meaningful consequences.
Despite rare statements of condemnation this week, skepticism remains about whether there will be systemic changes or concrete accountability.
The mosque attack, like so many others before it, is now added to the growing list of incidents that illustrate the volatility and fragility of the situation in the West Bank. For many Palestinians, these incidents are not isolated but part of a sustained campaign to erase their presence from the land.
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