Pro-settlers attack West Bank monastery

Vandals set on fire the doors of a Christian monastery in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Tuesday and daubed pro-settler graffiti on its walls in a possible retaliation for the eviction of families from an unauthorised outpost.

The name of the unauthorised Migron outpost, cleared of Israeli settlers following a court order on Sunday, was scrawled on the well-known 19th century Latrun Monastery, alongside the words “Jesus is a monkey” in Hebrew, said police.

Israeli officials had said they were worried that eviction of 50 families from Migron near Ramallah, might provoke more attacks from a vigilante settler group known as “Price Tag.”

The “Price Tag” name refers to retribution some Israeli settlers say they will exact for any attempt by their government to curb settlement in the West Bank.