Brussels, 06/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaking through her spokesperson on Tuesday 6 September, firmly condemned the setting on fire and vandalising of the Al-Nurayn mosque in Qusra, south of Naplouse in the West Bank. Israeli settlers destroyed windows and set old tyres on fire before throwing them into the building, witnesses say. Anti-Arab slogans were also written on the walls. Ashton considers that the “attacks against places of worship undermine the freedom of religion or belief which is a fundamental human right”. She calls on the Israeli authorities to “investigate the attack, bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent such attacks happening again”. “These provocations seriously undermine efforts to build the necessary trust for a comprehensive peace in the region. The EU will continue to work for a peaceful and negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, Ashton said. (O.L./transl.jl)