The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned hate attacks by illegal Israeli settlers who torched two mosques in illegally-occupied West Bank villages.
Illegal Israeli settlers reportedly set fire to mosques in the Palestinian villages of Al-Mughayyir and Abu Falah northeast of Ramallah. Witnesses and local officials said settlers also vandalized property and sprayed racist anti-Arab graffiti during the attacks.
SEE: Palestinian reports: Israeli settlers torch two mosques in West Bank villages
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We strongly condemn these cowardly acts of religious hatred by illegal Israeli settlers targeting Muslim houses of worship and call on the Trump administration and Congress to hold the perpetrators accountable – because Israel never will. The torching of mosques and other attacks on Palestinian civilians by illegal settlers are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of violence, intimidation, and ethnic cleansing carried out under the protection of Israel’s occupation authorities. The failure to hold those responsible accountable only encourages further violence and lawlessness.”
Yesterday, CAIR condemned the Israeli government’s seizure of planning and construction authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank city of Hebron, calling the move another attack on Palestinian rights, religious freedom, and international law.
CAIR has repeatedly condemned Israeli measures targeting the Ibrahimi Mosque.
In 1994, an illegal Israeli settler massacred 29 worshipers at the mosque, which has been subjected to restrictions and measures that have steadily reduced Muslim control and access.
Yesterday, CAIR welcomed calls from international medical groups for Israel to be suspended from the World Medical Association.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com