West Bank Mosque Arson: Threats Target Journalist & US Envoy

A mosque in the Samarian village of Bazaria was set on fire overnight Tuesday by suspected Jewish extremists who also spray-painted threatening messages on its walls, including direct threats against Israeli military correspondent Roy Sharon and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Among the graffiti messages sprayed on the mosque walls was: "Evacuations = chaos. You have been warned." Another message contained a direct threat to Sharon: "Roy Sharon, watch your car." The threat appears to reference recent social media posts by the military analyst criticizing hilltop youth (young settlers who establish unauthorized outposts in Judea and Samaria).

A third message referred to Ambassador Huckabee, stating: "Crush the terrorists."

Mike Huckabee (צילום: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

In a separate development, Israeli police announced this morning that eight suspects have been arrested in connection with multiple serious arson and assault incidents in the southern Hebron Hills area (of the West Bank). The arrests were made overnight as part of an ongoing investigation by the Judea and Samaria District's inter-agency command.

The suspects, residents of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and central Israel aged 16 to 20, have been transferred for interrogation. During the operation, police also seized three vehicles believed to have been used by the suspects while committing the alleged offenses.

Police plan to bring the suspects before a court and request an extension of their detention. The investigation is ongoing.

Israeli police issued a statement saying the force "condemns and views with severity incidents of violence and property damage that harm state security and the settlement enterprise as a whole, and will continue to act with determination and professionalism to locate and arrest those involved in such cases throughout the Judea and Samaria region, investigate them, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."