Israeli violations against Palestinians are encouraging violence and harming the peace process, the Palestinian Authority minister of religious affairs said Wednesday.

Mahmoud Habbash's remarks came as he visited the family of victims who were targeted by settlers in a Molotov attack a week earlier near Hebron in the southern West Bank.

Representing the president, Habbash told the family of the victims that Mahmoud Abbas would follow up with their case and intended to pay for their pilgrimage to Mecca.

"This criminal attack is one in a series of violations and abuse practiced by settlers against Palestinians. Moreover, the attack is a serious escalation of daily incidents," he said.

Habbash was accompanied by the head of PA general intelligence and the commander of the national security forces as well as the governor of Bethlehem.

The attack near al-Arrub refugee camp injured two four-year-olds and their parents. The victims have been hospitalized in Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem and are receiving treatment for burns.

Israeli officials have denounced the attack and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups say that settlers are rarely prosecuted in cases of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Over 500,000 Israeli settlers live on occupied Palestinian land