Expressing growing concern at the number and severity of the “price tag” attacks being carried out by West Bank settlers against Palestinians and Israeli Muslims, the United Nations today warned that Israel has a “legal obligation” to take measures to curb such attacks.

The comments, which were issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned the “price tag” attacks were getting out of hand, and that Israel needed to treat settler attacks on Palestinians as seriously as it treats Palestinian attacks against settlers.

Israeli officials were quick to reject the claim and expressed “shock” that the UN would suggest that there was a double standard. Shortly thereafter, the Israeli courts ordered the release of the only two suspected settlers detained in the burning of an Israeli mosques.

Following this up, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the creation of a new committee that would seek a legal loophole allowing them to legalize several settlements built without government permission on seized Palestinian lands. The Israeli military also demolished a mosque in the Jordan Valley, saying it was built without permission.

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