High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton strongly condemned in a statement issued Monday Jewish settlers' arson of a mosque in a West Bank village, according to her spokesperson. “The High Representative strongly condemns the setting on fire and vandalizing of the Al-Noreen mosque in Qusra in the West Bank on Monday,” said the statement quoted by Palestine News and Information Agency "WAFA". “Attacks against places of worship undermine the freedom of religion or belief which is a fundamental human right,” said Ashton, calling on the Israeli authorities “to investigate the attack, bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent such attacks happening again.” Ashton said that “these provocations seriously undermine efforts to build the necessary trust for a comprehensive peace in the region,” stressing that the EU will continue to work for a peaceful and negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
