Palestinian Authority Arabs immediately charged that “settlers” torched the mosque, forcing Israeli security forces to try to calm down villagers. Muslim clerics admitted they do not know who to blame but claimed that the mosque is not connected to electricity. They have asked Palestinian Authority police to investigate.
The PA previously has blamed Jews for a long list of damage to Arab property, particularly orchards and olive trees. In most cases, filmed evidence has shown that Arab farmers prune their trees, a necessary process that makes olive trees look grotesque and hacked until they bloom, and then blame residents of Jewish communities for “damage.” Reporters who do not know about agriculture take these charges at face value since the trees do look as if they were purposefully damaged.
There have been some incidents of Jewish attacks on Arab property, such as graffiti that was sprayed on an Arab mosque last month. In December, Arabs alleged that Jews burned part of a mosque, a charge which has not been proven..
Jewish leaders have condemned any attacks on Arabs and their property.
