The Palestinian foreign ministry on Sunday accused settlers in the West Bank of starting fire in Palestinian lands they seek to seize.

“If the Palestinians are accused of starting fires in Israel, then who is responsible for the fires in the occupied West Bank?” the ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, Palestinians lands in the West Bank that are under the threat of seizure to expand Israeli settlements are often the target of arson attacks by settlers.

The ministry said the Israeli government took advantage of the raging fires at home to launch a campaign of racist statements against the Palestinians and Arabs.

“The Israeli government has engaged in incitement against the Palestinians, accusing them of arson before investigation” it said.