Palestinian official: Mosque vandalized in West Bank in apparent settler attack
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Palestinians in the West Bank say a mosque has been vandalized in an apparent attack by a fringe group of extremist Jewish settlers.
Local religious leader Salah Jodeh told The Associated Press that a mosque in the village of Dir Istia was torched early on Wednesday.
He says the mosque door was set ablaze and some of the carpet was burnt.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He says graffiti sprayed on the site read: "Blood for blood, Qusra."
It's a reference to a village where Palestinians last week roughed up more than a dozen Israeli settlers who witnesses said had earlier attacked other Palestinians.
Israeli police said they were investigating.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Similar attacks in the past have been blamed on a tiny group of Jewish extremists. Israeli leaders have condemned such attacks.