Israeli occupation authorities ratcheted up tensions in Jerusalem yesterday by announcing preliminary approval for construction of 300 new Jewish-only homes in the east of the city.

Planning deputy head Amnon Arbel said that the project had been approved for the Ramot area.

Palestinian rage had already been ignited by a settler attack against a mosque in the West Bank village of Mughayer, north of Ramallah early yesterday.

Mayor Faraj al-Naasan praised the efforts of residents and Palestinian fire services in quelling the blaze and saving the building’s upper floor.

He cited a previous settler attack against another mosque in the village two years ago and frequent settler raids against vehicles and olive groves.

Israeli police said that a petrol bomb had been thrown at an ancient synagogue in the Israeli Arab town of Shfaram late on Tuesday night, causing light damage.