Several tombstones were smashed in the cemetery in the village of Awarta, south of Nablus, said Ghassan Daghlas, who is responsible for monitoring Jewish settlement activity in the area.

An Israeli army spokesman said that if the report proves true, “a complaint will be filed with the Israeli police.”

Jewish worshipers, accompanied by the army, had entered the village Tuesday evening to visit an ancient Jewish grave site in the area, the spokesman said.

Recent violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has been linked by some activists to Israel’s decision to impose a partial, 10-month freeze on building in the enclave.

– Reuters

IRAN

Russia to start up reactor this year

Russia this year will start up the reactor at Iran’s long-delayed Bushehr nuclear power plant, the head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation said Thursday.

Russia agreed to build Iran the 1,000-megawatt power plant at Bushehr 15 years ago, but delays have dogged the $1 billion project, and diplomats say Moscow has used it as a lever in relations with Tehran.