A Palestinian toddler was burnt to death in an arson attack by suspected Jewish settlers on homes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, sparking clashes in which a teenager was shot and died Saturday. The suspects have yet to be captured, Xinhua reported.
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Interior Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Israel Radio that suspected Jewish extremists may be shaken violently in custody – a controversial treatment used on Palestinian suspects.
“He who incites against Arab citizens of Israel should not be surprised when churches and mosques are burned down and in the end a baby is burned alive in his sleep”, he said.
It said the measures would include using “administrative detention”, under which detainees can be held for months or years without charges.
Along with administrative detentions, the security cabinet also instructed members of parliament to advance the “anti-terror bill” as it should also be applied to Jewish extremists.
It said the methods approved included “the use of administrative detentions in appropriate cases”, with the approval of the state attorney general.
Netanyahu’s security cabinet, comprised of senior ministers, decided to extend such arrests to Israelis as well “to take all steps necessary to bring those responsible to justice and prevent such attacks from occurring in the future”, a statement said.
Israeli officials claim Jewish extremist groups operate in small groups that are hard for informants to infiltrate.
Israeli media alleged that he was implicated in a June 18 arson attack on a shrine in northern Israel where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
The official said that whoever set the house on fire were sophisticated in their crimes.
A little before 4 a.m. on Friday, two masked men reached two homes in the Palestinian village of Duma, broke windows, and hurled Molotov cocktails inside.
Both homes caught fire.
The attack killed 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha and critically injured his parents and four-year-old brother.
The slain child was identified as Ali Dawabsheh. The baby’s mother sustained 70 percent burns. The perpetrators of these crimes need to face specific, enhanced consequences for these despicable acts of hate and terrorism.
Thousands of Israelis took to the streets over the weekend to protest the attacks and warn against a radicalized and violent fringe growing from within the country’s religious community.
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“Shira was murdered because she courageously supported the idea that everyone is entitled to live their lives in dignity and safety”, Mr Netanyahu said in a message of condolence.
