Mosque torched in West Bank: officials

　　JERUSALEM, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A mosque was set ablaze earlyWednesday in the West Bank village of Jabaa near Bethlehem, inanother suspected hate crime by Jewish extremists, officialssaid.

　　No injuries were reported, but the structure was damaged andHebrew-language hate graffiti were spray-painted on walls of themosque.

　　Police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said that a police team anda military force arrived at the scene and launched aninvestigation, but have yet to apprehend any suspects.

　　An Israeli security source said the attack was perpetrated aftera military force demolished last week a few houses near illegalJewish outpost of Geulat Zion.

　　The so-called "price tag" attacks, perpetrated by far-rightsettlers, target Palestinians' property or religious sites,including mosques and Christian churches, in response toPalestinian violence or, alternatively, to Israeli government movesthat are perceived as a threat to the expansion of Jewishsettlements.

　　According to police figures, hundreds of "price tag" attackswere committed annually in the last three years.

　　In 2013, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced thatIsraeli authorities will fight the "price tag" attacks with allmeans at their disposal. However, very few convictions were made onsuch attacks, though dozens were arrested.

　　In February 2014, an Israeli youth was sentenced to six monthsof community service in the first sentence handed over a price tagattack. He and two other minors set fire to Palestinian property inFebruary 2012. Enditem