“I condemn today’s arson attack and desecration of Al-Huda mosque in the village of Al-Jaba’a near Bethlehem in the West Bank,” UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry said in a statement.

The fire was reportedly set to the mosque overnight Tuesday.

Serry said he is “concerned by this and all other religiously-motivated attacks and provocations by any party, which may further inflame an already volatile environment.”

“A timely and thorough investigation, as well as bringing the perpetrators to justice, is critical,” he added. “Extremists on both sides must not be allowed to turn this conflict into a religious one.”

Photo:  UN Photo/Loey Felipe