West Bank mosque vandalism condemned

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DIR ISTIYA, West Bank, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The vandalism of a mosque and torching of three cars in the West Bank Wednesday brought criticism from officials in Israel and the United States.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported the words "price tag" and "Gal Arye Yosef" were spray-painted on the wall of a mosque in the village of Dir Istiya, near Ariel, that had been the target of an attack in September. The graffiti referred to an illegal outpost razed a day earlier, the Israeli news agency said.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak condemned the vandalism and arson. He ordered Israeli forces to "act resolutely, purposefully and to use all the means at their disposal to capture the lawless rioters and bring them to justice," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"These activities are designed to damage the fragile relationship between Israelis and Palestinians in the Judea and Samaria region, as well as between Israel and its neighbors," Barak said. "The [military,] in cooperation with the police and security personnel, will act robustly against these criminal activities."

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States abhors the latest attack.

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today's most recent vandalizing of a mosque, as well as the burning of three cars, in the West Bank village of Deir Istiya," Nuland said in a statement. "Hateful, dangerous, and provocative actions such as these are never justified."