Police say mosque in north Israel vandalized day after settlement construction knocked down

Police: Mosque vandalized in northern Israel

JERUSALEM — Police say vandals defaced a mosque in northern Israel, a day after Israeli troops demolished unauthorized construction in a West Bank settlement.

The mosque in Ibtin village was spray-painted Wednesday with the Star of David and phrases such as “Slated for demolition” and “There will be war over Judea and Samaria” — the biblical name Israel uses for the West Bank.

There was also graffiti saying “price tag” — a practice by some settlers to go after Palestinian targets to avenge Israeli actions against the settlers.

“Price tag” incidents have increased recently over the government’s decision to scale back settlement construction until September.

Settlers on Tuesday clashed with police after the demolition of two shacks built in the West Bank settlement of Beit El.