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Israel denies aiding settler violence

Palestinians flag the national flag to celebrate President Mahmoud Abbas' speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations, in Ramallah, West Bank, September 23, 2011. UPI/Debbie Hill
Palestinians flag the national flag to celebrate President Mahmoud Abbas' speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations, in Ramallah, West Bank, September 23, 2011. UPI/Debbie Hill | License Photo

JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Israeli officials say they deny accusations the military is protecting settlers who attack Palestinians in the West Bank.

Claims by the Palestinian Authority that an increase in anti-Palestinian violence is being coordinated by the Israeli military are "baseless and ridiculous," a military source told The Jerusalem Post.

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P.A. official Maher Ghnaim said settlers have attacked more than 20 Palestinian communities in the West Bank and pointed to four mosques that had been torched or vandalized in recent weeks, the newspaper reported Friday.

An Israeli army source said there has been a rise in West Bank violence between Israelis and Palestinians since the demolition of three settler homes at the Migron outpost early last month.

"It is a concern for us, because it can potentially create a deterioration in the security situation," the source said.

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