West Bank settlers have set fire to a mosque in the Palestinian village of Qusra, south of Nablus, and vandalised an IDF base.

The attacks are thought to be in retaliation for the Israeli government's destruction of three houses on Sunday in the illegal Jewish settlement of Migron. Settlers were seen placing burning tyres inside the mosque before dawn on Monday, badly burning its interior. Graffiti was daubed on the walls, including "Mohammed is a Pig".

Palestinian witnesses to the attack claimed it was part of a "price tag" policy by the settlers to deter villagers from submitting legal claims to their land. Israel's High Court of Justice has ruled that the entire settlement of Migron must be vacated by March 2012.

The attack on a West Bank army base on Tuesday night also appeared an act of retaliation - the first of its kind. Tyres were slashed on 12 army jeeps and graffiti was daubed saying "Price Tag - Greetings from Migron". IDF sources believe that the base could have been infiltrated only with co-operation from soldiers serving in the camp.

Right-wing activist Itamar Ben Gvir blamed the Israeli government for the mosque attack. He said that "those who destroy homes are responsible for the anger which burst out."