19 Jan 2010

Settlers arrested in connection with mosque fire

9:53 am on 19 January 2010

Police in Israel have arrested 10 people in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank in connection with an arson attack on a Palestinian mosque last month.

The Israeli authorities think the mosque was attacked in protest at a temporary freeze on settlement building on the West Bank.

Police carried out a pre-dawn raid on the Yitzhar settlement, near the Palestinian town Yasuf, where the mosque was attacked in December.

The floor of the mosque and a stand holding copies of the Quran were burned.

Police sources said they are investigating whether there is a link between those arrested and the arson attack.