Hanan Ashrawi, Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO),strongly condemned, on Friday evening, the escalation of violence and hate crimes committed by Jewish extremists against Christian and Islamic religious sanctities, describing these practices as a sectarian war that takes place under the protection of the Israeli government.

Ashrawi, in a press statement, on behalf of the Executive Committee, denounced the attempt by an extremist settler to burn the Church of Gethsemane in Jerusalem.

She said: "These serious and anti-religious attacks are the result of an extremist occupation ideology based on racism, incitement and hatred, in light of the existence of legislation that reinforces discrimination and exclusion of others and takes accountability for criminals."

Ashrawi also condemned the escalating brutal practices of the occupation forces against our defenseless people, and pointed to the execution of the child Ali Abu Alya (13 years) in the village of Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah.

"Targeting children and the excessive use of force, live ammunition, and metal and rubber bullets against them is a direct violation of international laws, including the United Nations Law on the Rights of the Child, which Israel ratified in 1991," she added.