Arrests made in connection with July attack that killed three members of Palestinian family, including a toddler
Israel’s police and domestic intelligence agency, the Shin Bet, has arrested “several Israelis” in connection with an arson attack in July that killed three members of a Palestinian family, including a toddler.
An announcement of arrests had been widely expected after media outlets this week reported a breakthrough in a case involving Jewish extremism. Investigators confirmed in a statement that members of a “Jewish terror group” had been arrested in connection with the attack.
The statement did not disclose how many suspects were in custody and said a court order banning disclosure of their names and other details of the case remained in effect.
The slow pace of the investigation has been criticised. In September, the defence minister, Moshe Ya’alon, said Israel knew who had carried out the attack but was unable to charge them because of lack of evidence and fear of compromising sources.
The cabinet approved the use of administrative detention against suspected Jewish terrorists, a practice usually used against Palestinians suspected of terror activities. Three Israelis placed under administrative detention in the aftermath of the attack were identified as Meir Ettinger, who, according to the Shin Bet, headed an extreme rightwing organisation; Mordechai Meyer, the alleged arsonist behind a fire at Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem; and Eviatar Slonim, accused of setting fire to a home in the Palestinian town of Khirbet Abu Falah.
The attack in the northern West Bank village of Duma on 31 July killed 18-month-old Ali Dawabshe. His father, Saad, succumbed to severe burns the following week, and his mother, Riham, died in early September. The surviving member of the family, four-year-old Ahmed Dawabshe, suffered extensive burns.
Witnesses claimed that a number of people were seen fleeing towards a nearby settlement. Hebrew graffiti was sprayed on houses in the village.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/03/israel-arrests-members-of-jewish-terror-group-over-west-bank-arson-attack