JERUSALEM, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Police said in a statement on Friday that it had launched an investigation together with the Israel Security Agency (ISA) following the arson of a mosque and the spraying of malicious graffiti overnight in the Palestinian village of Marda in the central West Bank.
According to a report by the Palestinian official news agency WAFA, a group of Israeli settlers stormed the eastern area of Marda, set ablaze the Bir al-Walidain Mosque, and spray-painted slogans on its walls.
The Palestinian agency added that local residents managed to control the blaze before it spread throughout the mosque, limiting the damage to its entrance. It also reported that there were no casualties in the incident.
Israel's state-owned Kan TV News channel reported that masked Jewish individuals were responsible for setting fire to the mosque.
The report further stated that they had spray-painted on its walls in Hebrew the biblical verse "The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance," the word "revenge," and the Jewish Star of David symbol.
"We take the incident seriously and will act resolutely to bring those responsible to justice," said the Israel Police, adding that investigations are underway. ■
