21 dec 2015
The Israeli Supreme Court is to release, on Monday, two Israelis accused of burning the Dawabsha family in the village of Douma, occupied Nablus, four months ago.
Israeli public radio stated, according to Al Ray, that it is expected to release other detainees accused of the crime this evening, provided that they stay under the house arrest.
In the same context, the Israeli Supreme Court considers, this evening, a petition filed by one of the suspects, demanding to allow him meeting with his lawyer.
The Minister of the Israeli army, Moshe Ya'alon, said in a statement last week, "The perpetrators of the crime of Dawabsheh family's arson attack are identified for us, but there is no evidence to bring them to trial or to charge them."
Israeli public radio stated, according to Al Ray, that it is expected to release other detainees accused of the crime this evening, provided that they stay under the house arrest.
In the same context, the Israeli Supreme Court considers, this evening, a petition filed by one of the suspects, demanding to allow him meeting with his lawyer.
The Minister of the Israeli army, Moshe Ya'alon, said in a statement last week, "The perpetrators of the crime of Dawabsheh family's arson attack are identified for us, but there is no evidence to bring them to trial or to charge them."
Meir Ettinger
In July of 2015, two parents and their 18-month-old son were burned to death when a commando threw firebombs at the Dawabsha family’s home in the village of Douma. A four-year-old child survived the attack, but sustained severe injuries.
At least six Israelis were arrested for the attack as “administrative detainees" after the Shin Bet presented intelligence to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein. Shin Bet requested permission to interrogate the suspects using “special methods.” This is the first time such measures have been directed at Jewish citizens of Israel.
Four of the six known suspects maintain dual-citizenship with Anglo-Saxon countries.
Three suspects with dual citizenship – Meir Ettinger and Mordechai Meyer and Eviatar Slonim – are not accused of direct involvement in the Douma attack, but are accused of parttaking in a violent underground movement known as “the Revolt.”
Slonim is an Australian citizen. The Sunday Morning Herald reported that he a relative of former Knesset member and right-winger Rabbi Moshe Feiglin. Feiglin recently visited Australia to speak to synagogues in Sydney and Melbourne. Israeli security services allege that Slonim participated in setting fire to a home in the Palestinian town of Khirbet Abu Falah.
Meyer is a U.S. citizen. Shin Bet claims that Mordechai committed arson at Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem.
Ettinger – a U.S. citizen and the grandson of militant Jewish nationalist Rabbi Meir Kahane – allegedly heads an extreme right-wing organization intent on toppling the Israeli government though violent means.
Haaretz reported that there are at least three other Israeli Jews suspected of direct involvement in the Douma killings, but their names are protected by a court-issued gag order.
At least one of these three suspects has dual American-Israeli citizenship. His parents have already spoken with the U.S. State Department and urged them to get involved in his case.
In July of 2015, two parents and their 18-month-old son were burned to death when a commando threw firebombs at the Dawabsha family’s home in the village of Douma. A four-year-old child survived the attack, but sustained severe injuries.
At least six Israelis were arrested for the attack as “administrative detainees" after the Shin Bet presented intelligence to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein. Shin Bet requested permission to interrogate the suspects using “special methods.” This is the first time such measures have been directed at Jewish citizens of Israel.
Four of the six known suspects maintain dual-citizenship with Anglo-Saxon countries.
Three suspects with dual citizenship – Meir Ettinger and Mordechai Meyer and Eviatar Slonim – are not accused of direct involvement in the Douma attack, but are accused of parttaking in a violent underground movement known as “the Revolt.”
Slonim is an Australian citizen. The Sunday Morning Herald reported that he a relative of former Knesset member and right-winger Rabbi Moshe Feiglin. Feiglin recently visited Australia to speak to synagogues in Sydney and Melbourne. Israeli security services allege that Slonim participated in setting fire to a home in the Palestinian town of Khirbet Abu Falah.
Meyer is a U.S. citizen. Shin Bet claims that Mordechai committed arson at Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem.
Ettinger – a U.S. citizen and the grandson of militant Jewish nationalist Rabbi Meir Kahane – allegedly heads an extreme right-wing organization intent on toppling the Israeli government though violent means.
Haaretz reported that there are at least three other Israeli Jews suspected of direct involvement in the Douma killings, but their names are protected by a court-issued gag order.
At least one of these three suspects has dual American-Israeli citizenship. His parents have already spoken with the U.S. State Department and urged them to get involved in his case.
20 dec 2015
The District judges postponed on Sunday the decision whether to accept or reject the psychological report of the killer of Martyr Mohammad Abu Khdeir to an unspecified date; the report will be sent to the concerned authorities.
A session was held at the District court to discuss the psychological report of the main suspect (Yousef Ben David) in killing Martyr Mohammad Abu Khdeir; the report was submitted at the end of last month.
According to the report, Ben David suffers from psychological disorders making him unfit for a trial.
Lawyer Mohannad Jbara explained that Sunday’s session was focused on the medical report. The suspect’s lawyer said his client suffers from psychological disorders and has the right to defend himself. He also tried to justify the reason behind the delay in submitting the report to the judges (after a year and half of the crime) by saying that he was unable to present his client to a doctor during the previous months.
Lawyer Jbara pointed out that Ben David was presented to a Psychiatrist by the public prosecution after committing the crime and the doctor confirmed in his report that Ben David was sane and does not suffer from any psychological disorders making him fit for a trial.
During the session, the prosecutor stressed on the necessity to reject the psychological report since it does not meet the necessary legal requirements for acceptance.
The prosecutor also revealed that the Psychiatrist is an Israeli doctor living abroad who was able to visit Ben David last June unlike what the lawyer claims regarding the delay of submitting the report to court. The lawyer deliberately delayed submitting the report in an attempt to affect the judge’s decision.
The prosecutor also said that the Supreme Court had issued decisions refusing late claims submitted by the lawyers.
Jbara pointed out that the judges’ commission acknowledged during the session that was held last month Ben David’s full responsibility of the crime of killing Mohammad Abu Khdeir but did not convict him. According to the Israeli law, any suspect cannot be convicted before studying his psychological and mental conditions.
A session was held at the District court to discuss the psychological report of the main suspect (Yousef Ben David) in killing Martyr Mohammad Abu Khdeir; the report was submitted at the end of last month.
According to the report, Ben David suffers from psychological disorders making him unfit for a trial.
Lawyer Mohannad Jbara explained that Sunday’s session was focused on the medical report. The suspect’s lawyer said his client suffers from psychological disorders and has the right to defend himself. He also tried to justify the reason behind the delay in submitting the report to the judges (after a year and half of the crime) by saying that he was unable to present his client to a doctor during the previous months.
Lawyer Jbara pointed out that Ben David was presented to a Psychiatrist by the public prosecution after committing the crime and the doctor confirmed in his report that Ben David was sane and does not suffer from any psychological disorders making him fit for a trial.
During the session, the prosecutor stressed on the necessity to reject the psychological report since it does not meet the necessary legal requirements for acceptance.
The prosecutor also revealed that the Psychiatrist is an Israeli doctor living abroad who was able to visit Ben David last June unlike what the lawyer claims regarding the delay of submitting the report to court. The lawyer deliberately delayed submitting the report in an attempt to affect the judge’s decision.
The prosecutor also said that the Supreme Court had issued decisions refusing late claims submitted by the lawyers.
Jbara pointed out that the judges’ commission acknowledged during the session that was held last month Ben David’s full responsibility of the crime of killing Mohammad Abu Khdeir but did not convict him. According to the Israeli law, any suspect cannot be convicted before studying his psychological and mental conditions.
14 dec 2015
Member of Palestinian legislative Council (PLC) Khalida Jarrar said that her detention in Israeli jails is political par excellence. She accused the Israeli judiciary of seeking to silence anyone who exposes Israeli crimes.
The Palestinian Committee for Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners quoted MP Jarrar, who is currently held in HaSharon prison, as stating that her defense had presented an immunity appeal to the court in accordance with the international law's immunity granted for elected officials, but the appeal was turned down.
The lawmaker added that “I did not expect anything from military courts. They are a joke, it's like a big theater, I do not trust them and my detention has been political since the beginning.”
Jarrar also said that she refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the court, adding that all charges pressed against her are "ridiculous" and related to completely legal activities, including social and political work as a member of parliament.
She also pointed out that she was badly treated along with other prisoners while being transferred from Ofer court to HaSharon prison.
Jarrar added that she and other prisoners were handcuffed and their feet were shackled during visits by family members or lawyers.
On Dec. 6, an Israeli military court sentenced Jarrar to 15 months in jail. The lawmaker was also fined 10,000 shekels ($2,582) and given a suspended sentence of 12 months within a five year period.
PLC member Khalida Jarrar was arrested on 2 April 2015 and initially placed under an administrative detention order of 6 months, which was subsequently limited to one month and two days. She was then charged with 12 charges, following international outcry at her administrative detention order.
There are currently five PLC members held illegally in Israeli jails without charge or trial.
The Palestinian Committee for Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners quoted MP Jarrar, who is currently held in HaSharon prison, as stating that her defense had presented an immunity appeal to the court in accordance with the international law's immunity granted for elected officials, but the appeal was turned down.
The lawmaker added that “I did not expect anything from military courts. They are a joke, it's like a big theater, I do not trust them and my detention has been political since the beginning.”
Jarrar also said that she refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the court, adding that all charges pressed against her are "ridiculous" and related to completely legal activities, including social and political work as a member of parliament.
She also pointed out that she was badly treated along with other prisoners while being transferred from Ofer court to HaSharon prison.
Jarrar added that she and other prisoners were handcuffed and their feet were shackled during visits by family members or lawyers.
On Dec. 6, an Israeli military court sentenced Jarrar to 15 months in jail. The lawmaker was also fined 10,000 shekels ($2,582) and given a suspended sentence of 12 months within a five year period.
PLC member Khalida Jarrar was arrested on 2 April 2015 and initially placed under an administrative detention order of 6 months, which was subsequently limited to one month and two days. She was then charged with 12 charges, following international outcry at her administrative detention order.
There are currently five PLC members held illegally in Israeli jails without charge or trial.
On November 26th 2015, the Israeli court charged teenagers Ali Shamlawi, Mohammed Kleib, Mohammed Suleiman, Ammar Souf and Tamer Souf with manslaughter.
The court sentenced the boys to 15 years in prison, provided they each pay NIS 30,000 (approximately $7,750) by January 28th 2016.
Failure to pay this amount will likely result in another 10 years of prison time added to each boys' sentence.
The boys have been in an adult Israeli prison for 2 years and 8 months already, accused of throwing stones at a settlers’ car.
The boys’ arrest stemmed from an accident in March 2013, when a settler driving with her three daughters crashed into a parked truck on Route 5.
The settler’s children were severely injured. One child died this year from the injuries she sustained in the accident, compounded by pneumonia.
Though the truck driver originally testified that he had pulled over on the road due to a flat tire, he later claimed that he had also seen rocks on the side of the road.
A senior Israeli military officer told Al-Jazeera that on that day, 20 Israeli drivers filed insurance claims stating that stones hit their cars on Route 5.
But, none of the allegedly affected Israelis contacted the police.
Consequently, there are no eyewitnesses to corroborate the claim that anyone had been throwing stones that day, much less caused this particular accident.
Nevertheless, Israeli authorities labeled the accident as a “terrorist attack” and conducted night raids in the nearby village of Hares. Nineteen boys, all between 16 and 17 years old, were detained.
After subjecting the minors to solitary confinement and denying them legal representation for days or even weeks at a time, the Israeli authorities released all but five boys, claiming that they had confessed to the crime.
However, the five imprisoned boys and their families maintain that the boys’ confessions were forced, extracted by torture and threats.
The sentencing of the Hares boys is another clear example of the way the Israeli court system functions to criminalize Palestinians, without any concern for due process or any notion of justice.
The Israeli military court system convicts 99.7% of the Palestinians that come before it.
In a press release, the Free the Hares Boys campaign calls for local and international human rights organizations and people of conscience to demand justice for the Hares Boys.
The court sentenced the boys to 15 years in prison, provided they each pay NIS 30,000 (approximately $7,750) by January 28th 2016.
Failure to pay this amount will likely result in another 10 years of prison time added to each boys' sentence.
The boys have been in an adult Israeli prison for 2 years and 8 months already, accused of throwing stones at a settlers’ car.
The boys’ arrest stemmed from an accident in March 2013, when a settler driving with her three daughters crashed into a parked truck on Route 5.
The settler’s children were severely injured. One child died this year from the injuries she sustained in the accident, compounded by pneumonia.
Though the truck driver originally testified that he had pulled over on the road due to a flat tire, he later claimed that he had also seen rocks on the side of the road.
A senior Israeli military officer told Al-Jazeera that on that day, 20 Israeli drivers filed insurance claims stating that stones hit their cars on Route 5.
But, none of the allegedly affected Israelis contacted the police.
Consequently, there are no eyewitnesses to corroborate the claim that anyone had been throwing stones that day, much less caused this particular accident.
Nevertheless, Israeli authorities labeled the accident as a “terrorist attack” and conducted night raids in the nearby village of Hares. Nineteen boys, all between 16 and 17 years old, were detained.
After subjecting the minors to solitary confinement and denying them legal representation for days or even weeks at a time, the Israeli authorities released all but five boys, claiming that they had confessed to the crime.
However, the five imprisoned boys and their families maintain that the boys’ confessions were forced, extracted by torture and threats.
The sentencing of the Hares boys is another clear example of the way the Israeli court system functions to criminalize Palestinians, without any concern for due process or any notion of justice.
The Israeli military court system convicts 99.7% of the Palestinians that come before it.
In a press release, the Free the Hares Boys campaign calls for local and international human rights organizations and people of conscience to demand justice for the Hares Boys.
13 dec 2015
Israeli prosecution submitted an indictment to the Israeli court of juveniles in Occupied Jerusalem against a 16-year-old Palestinian girl Nourhan Awad from Qalandya. The indictment included two charges: attempted murder and possessing a knife.
The Israeli Walla website said Nourhan is charged with carrying out a stabbing operation by scissors in Jaffa Street to the west of Occupied Jerusalem.
Nourhan along with her cousin Hadil, 14, was allegedly accused of attacking Israeli settlers.
The stabbing operation resulted in the injury of two Israelis including a policeman who seems to have been shot by friendly fire. Nourhan was injured seriously by Israeli gunfire, while her cousin Hadil was killed.
The court approved the indictment and endorsed the extension of her detention order.
The Israeli Walla website said Nourhan is charged with carrying out a stabbing operation by scissors in Jaffa Street to the west of Occupied Jerusalem.
Nourhan along with her cousin Hadil, 14, was allegedly accused of attacking Israeli settlers.
The stabbing operation resulted in the injury of two Israelis including a policeman who seems to have been shot by friendly fire. Nourhan was injured seriously by Israeli gunfire, while her cousin Hadil was killed.
The court approved the indictment and endorsed the extension of her detention order.
12 dec 2015
Hardline Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich has described the Jewish settlers' deadly arson attack on the Palestinian Dawabsheh family in the West Bank village of Duma as "not an act of terror."
In a column published on Thursday by the B'Sheva newspaper, Smotrich, from the Jewish Home party, called for not drawing an analogy between the murder of Jews and Palestinians.
"The murder in Duma, with all its severity, is not an incident of terrorism. Period. Those who call it terror are perverting the truth, unjustifiably inflicting great harm to human and civil rights, making themselves like UN officials, whose job is to maintain order on both sides, and cheapening the concept of terror, and as a result, at the end of the day undermining the effectiveness of the efforts to combat it," he wrote.
The Knesset member also lashed out at the Shin Bet for conducting investigations into the Duma arson attack and interrogating Jewish suspects, accusing it of crossing all the red lines.
In a column published on Thursday by the B'Sheva newspaper, Smotrich, from the Jewish Home party, called for not drawing an analogy between the murder of Jews and Palestinians.
"The murder in Duma, with all its severity, is not an incident of terrorism. Period. Those who call it terror are perverting the truth, unjustifiably inflicting great harm to human and civil rights, making themselves like UN officials, whose job is to maintain order on both sides, and cheapening the concept of terror, and as a result, at the end of the day undermining the effectiveness of the efforts to combat it," he wrote.
The Knesset member also lashed out at the Shin Bet for conducting investigations into the Duma arson attack and interrogating Jewish suspects, accusing it of crossing all the red lines.
11 dec 2015
An Israeli court on Friday released one of the Jewish settlers suspected of carrying out a deadly arson attack in last July on al-Dawabsheh family in Duma village, south of Nablus city.
According to Israel's channel 7, the released settler, who lives in a settlement north of Ramallah city, had been interrogated for two weeks by the police and now he will stay for a while under house arrest.
One week ago, the Shin Bet claimed it had managed to unravel the mastery of the crime that happened to al-Dawabsheh family, without giving further details.
A gang of Jewish settlers in late July 2015 attacked the house of a Palestinian family with Molotov cocktails, killing 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh, while both his parents died later one after another from their injuries. His 4-year-old brother was also critically injured in the attack.
According to Israel's channel 7, the released settler, who lives in a settlement north of Ramallah city, had been interrogated for two weeks by the police and now he will stay for a while under house arrest.
One week ago, the Shin Bet claimed it had managed to unravel the mastery of the crime that happened to al-Dawabsheh family, without giving further details.
A gang of Jewish settlers in late July 2015 attacked the house of a Palestinian family with Molotov cocktails, killing 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh, while both his parents died later one after another from their injuries. His 4-year-old brother was also critically injured in the attack.
8 dec 2015
Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked has proposed a new law allowing the government to seize homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out stabbing or car-ramming attacks in addition to demolishing them.
According to Maariv newspaper on Monday, Shaked submitted a bill in this regard to the Israeli ministerial committee for legislation in order to strengthen Israel's ability to fight Palestinian vehicular and stabbing attacks in particular.
The justice minister explained that her bill, if approved, would expand the powers of the security authorities and further deter Palestinians from attacking Israelis.
Ayelet Shaked, a member of the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party, had previously introduced and supported several bills targeting the Palestinians, including one calling for issuing actual prison verdicts against detained children.
According to Maariv newspaper on Monday, Shaked submitted a bill in this regard to the Israeli ministerial committee for legislation in order to strengthen Israel's ability to fight Palestinian vehicular and stabbing attacks in particular.
The justice minister explained that her bill, if approved, would expand the powers of the security authorities and further deter Palestinians from attacking Israelis.
Ayelet Shaked, a member of the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party, had previously introduced and supported several bills targeting the Palestinians, including one calling for issuing actual prison verdicts against detained children.
4 dec 2015
Israel's supreme court on Thursday turned down an appeal against life sentences filed by seven ex-detainees, who were rejailed last year after their release as part of the 2011 Palestinian-Israeli swap deal.
The court rejected the prisoners' appeal against their detention and the reactivation of their previous life sentences, and confirmed the renewed prison orders issued against them, Amjad Abu Asab, head of the family committee for Jerusalemite detainees, stated.
Abu Asab said the prisoners, six from Jerusalem and one from Ramallah, were ex-detainees and rejailed in 2014 after the Israeli occupation army and police launched a mass arrest campaign in the West Bank and Jerusalem in reaction to the kidnapping and killing of three young settlers near al-Khalil city.
The prisoners are Aladdin Bazaan, Jamal Abu Saleh, Adnan Maragha, Naser Abed Rabbo, Rajab Tahhan, Ismail Hijazi and Nidal Zalloum.
The court rejected the prisoners' appeal against their detention and the reactivation of their previous life sentences, and confirmed the renewed prison orders issued against them, Amjad Abu Asab, head of the family committee for Jerusalemite detainees, stated.
Abu Asab said the prisoners, six from Jerusalem and one from Ramallah, were ex-detainees and rejailed in 2014 after the Israeli occupation army and police launched a mass arrest campaign in the West Bank and Jerusalem in reaction to the kidnapping and killing of three young settlers near al-Khalil city.
The prisoners are Aladdin Bazaan, Jamal Abu Saleh, Adnan Maragha, Naser Abed Rabbo, Rajab Tahhan, Ismail Hijazi and Nidal Zalloum.
1 dec 2015
Israel's channel 10 said that a new dramatic development came to the surface regarding the investigations on the deadly arson attack by Jewish settlers on a Palestinian family in a West Bank village a few months ago.
According to the channel, the Israeli security apparatuses recently voiced optimism about unraveling the mastery behind the murder of al-Dawabsheh family in cooperation with the army and the attorney general.
The channel pointed to the possibility that the killers of al-Dawabsheh family have been arrested, but there is still a news blackout imposed by the security authorities on the progress of investigations.
However, Palestinian activists believe that the talk about capturing the killers of the Palestinian family was intended to absorb the anger of the Palestinian street after an Israeli court on Monday exonerated the mastermind behind the murder of 16-year-old Mohamed Abu Khudair, who was burned alive by settlers about one and a half years ago in Jerusalem.
In July 2015, a gang of extremist Jewish settlers set fire to a Palestinian house in Duma village near Nablus, which led to the immediate death of an 18-month-old baby from al-Dawabsheh family and serious injuries to his parents and four-year-old brother.
Several days later, his parents, Saad and Reham al-Dawabsheh, were proclaimed dead one after the other in Israeli hospitals.
According to the channel, the Israeli security apparatuses recently voiced optimism about unraveling the mastery behind the murder of al-Dawabsheh family in cooperation with the army and the attorney general.
The channel pointed to the possibility that the killers of al-Dawabsheh family have been arrested, but there is still a news blackout imposed by the security authorities on the progress of investigations.
However, Palestinian activists believe that the talk about capturing the killers of the Palestinian family was intended to absorb the anger of the Palestinian street after an Israeli court on Monday exonerated the mastermind behind the murder of 16-year-old Mohamed Abu Khudair, who was burned alive by settlers about one and a half years ago in Jerusalem.
In July 2015, a gang of extremist Jewish settlers set fire to a Palestinian house in Duma village near Nablus, which led to the immediate death of an 18-month-old baby from al-Dawabsheh family and serious injuries to his parents and four-year-old brother.
Several days later, his parents, Saad and Reham al-Dawabsheh, were proclaimed dead one after the other in Israeli hospitals.
An Israeli court, on Tuesday, sentenced a Jewish extremist to three years in prison for his part in an arson attack on a mixed Palestinian and Israeli school in Jerusalem, last year.
Yitzhak Gabbai, aged 31, was sentenced to two years for the attack, and a further ten months for possession of a knife and incitement to hatred. He was also ordered to pay 10,000 shekels ($2,584) in compensation to the Hand-in-Hand school.
According to Ma'an, the sentence followed Gabbai's earlier confession to setting fire to a classroom in the school and daubing "Death to Arabs" on one of its walls, the court said.
Yitzhak Gabbai, aged 31, was sentenced to two years for the attack, and a further ten months for possession of a knife and incitement to hatred. He was also ordered to pay 10,000 shekels ($2,584) in compensation to the Hand-in-Hand school.
According to Ma'an, the sentence followed Gabbai's earlier confession to setting fire to a classroom in the school and daubing "Death to Arabs" on one of its walls, the court said.
Gabai with the Twito brothers in court
Gabbai carried out the attack on Nov. 29, 2014, along with brothers Shlomo and Nahman Twito, who were sentenced to two years and two and a half years respectively in July this year.
All three are members of the extremist anti-Palestinian group Lehava, which is believed to have carried out a number of violent hate crimes against Palestinians.
Hand-in-Hand, which has six schools of 1,400 children across Israel -- half Jewish and half Palestinian -- is viewed as a rare model of tolerance in an otherwise fiercely divided society.
The schools said in a statement: "We are less interested by the several years the arsonist will spend in prison than we are by the message. The court made a clear statement against incitement and against the distribution of racially inflammatory material."
The schools added that this message would be communicated to the students and their parents, adding that they would continue to work toward a more egalitarian education, which they said was their "answer to racial incitement."
Possible breakthrough in Douma attack
The members of the extremist Lehava group follow the teachings of the late Meir Kahana, an anti-Palestinian rabbi whose Kach party was banned in Israel.
Along with "Death to Arabs," slogans such as "Kahana was right" and "There's no coexistence with cancer" were found scrawled on the school's walls after the arson attack.
Lehava's leader Bentzi Gopstein, said at the time that his organization did not act illegally, accusing Israeli authorities of trying to frame Lehava to thwart its "holy work of saving the daughters of Israel." The attack sparked a wave of international condemnation and came amid months of mounting unrest across Jerusalem.
Palestinians have still been waiting for action to be taken against Jewish extremists responsible for an arson attack in the West Bank village of Douma earlier this year.
The attack on July 31 claimed the lives of three members of the Dawabsha family -- an 18-month-old toddler and his parents -- leaving only four-year-old Ahmad Dawabsha alive.
A number of Jewish extremists were afterward detained, but nearly all of them were later released and none were convicted over the deadly attack.
Israeli news site Ynet, on Sunday, reported that Israel had made a breakthrough in "one of the most serious acts of Jewish terrorism to take place in recent years," but the details remained under gag order and the site could not confirm that it was referring to the Douma attack.
Ynet quoted "a relative of the family hurt by the Jewish terror attacks," who told them he had not received any updates from Israeli authorities about a development in the investigation.
He told the news site: "When it's Jewish terrorists, the defense establishment works slowly. But when it's Palestinian terrorists, they capture them within two days and bring them to justice.
"I want to believe the defense establishment brings to justice the criminals who ruined my life and that of my family's."
Gabbai carried out the attack on Nov. 29, 2014, along with brothers Shlomo and Nahman Twito, who were sentenced to two years and two and a half years respectively in July this year.
All three are members of the extremist anti-Palestinian group Lehava, which is believed to have carried out a number of violent hate crimes against Palestinians.
Hand-in-Hand, which has six schools of 1,400 children across Israel -- half Jewish and half Palestinian -- is viewed as a rare model of tolerance in an otherwise fiercely divided society.
The schools said in a statement: "We are less interested by the several years the arsonist will spend in prison than we are by the message. The court made a clear statement against incitement and against the distribution of racially inflammatory material."
The schools added that this message would be communicated to the students and their parents, adding that they would continue to work toward a more egalitarian education, which they said was their "answer to racial incitement."
Possible breakthrough in Douma attack
The members of the extremist Lehava group follow the teachings of the late Meir Kahana, an anti-Palestinian rabbi whose Kach party was banned in Israel.
Along with "Death to Arabs," slogans such as "Kahana was right" and "There's no coexistence with cancer" were found scrawled on the school's walls after the arson attack.
Lehava's leader Bentzi Gopstein, said at the time that his organization did not act illegally, accusing Israeli authorities of trying to frame Lehava to thwart its "holy work of saving the daughters of Israel." The attack sparked a wave of international condemnation and came amid months of mounting unrest across Jerusalem.
Palestinians have still been waiting for action to be taken against Jewish extremists responsible for an arson attack in the West Bank village of Douma earlier this year.
The attack on July 31 claimed the lives of three members of the Dawabsha family -- an 18-month-old toddler and his parents -- leaving only four-year-old Ahmad Dawabsha alive.
A number of Jewish extremists were afterward detained, but nearly all of them were later released and none were convicted over the deadly attack.
Israeli news site Ynet, on Sunday, reported that Israel had made a breakthrough in "one of the most serious acts of Jewish terrorism to take place in recent years," but the details remained under gag order and the site could not confirm that it was referring to the Douma attack.
Ynet quoted "a relative of the family hurt by the Jewish terror attacks," who told them he had not received any updates from Israeli authorities about a development in the investigation.
He told the news site: "When it's Jewish terrorists, the defense establishment works slowly. But when it's Palestinian terrorists, they capture them within two days and bring them to justice.
"I want to believe the defense establishment brings to justice the criminals who ruined my life and that of my family's."
State Prosecutor Shai NItzan
Shai Nitzan tells high school students that it is forbidden to resort to violence against a handcuffed terrorist: 'you are not Van Damme.'
State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan warned high schools students on Monday against lynching a neutralized terrorist, arguing that "you are not Van Damme."
Speaking to the students during an online lecture on human rights, Nitzan stressed the importance of leaders making it clear to the public that they must not take the law into their own hands and attack a neutralized terrorist, warning that "whoever act violently against a terrorist who no longer presents a danger will be prosecuted."
Nitzan said that education classes must be held in each school to explain to young people what is allowed and what is forbidden during terrorist attacks in order for Israel to maintain its humanity.
"Once the terrorist is neutralized, there should not be violence done to them by a citizen. If he is handcuffed it is forbidden to beat him up. It is forbidden to hit. You are not Van Damme. You're not the police, not judges, not God."
Nitzan quoted the Talmud which states that "If someone comes to kill you, get up early to kill him first," but called to exercise discretion.
"If a policeman sees someone trying to stab another person, it is clear that it his obligation to remove the danger and if the only way is to shoot the stabber, this is his duty as a cop. One must not shoot him in the center of the body in order to kill him. If he is too close, then you can fire at the center of the body only if it is essential to remove the danger," he said.
However, the state prosecutor made it clear that if anyone misjudges the danger and the error is genuine and reasonable, he will be protected before the law.
"One is permitted to use violence during a terrorist attack only when required. Whoever resorts to violence, even against a terrorist, will be prosecuted because we live in a state of law," he explained.
Nitzan's lecture also addressed the issue of the demolition of terrorists' houses and said that it was "a very extreme step that Israel tries to avoid due to the fact that innocent people are hurt."
However, Nitzan said that security officials presented evidence before the High Court that showed that house demolitions is an effective deterrent for some of those who are planning attacks.
Nitzan also called on young people to refrain from incitement on the internet. According to him, it is possible to express any opinion, but not incitement to racism and violence.
"It's evil and accomplishes nothing but release stress and frustration. The Jewish people endured two thousand years of racism and know that it can lead to bad acts. We can not go down that road because it is immoral and contradicts the heritage of Judaism and Islam," he asserted.
Shai Nitzan tells high school students that it is forbidden to resort to violence against a handcuffed terrorist: 'you are not Van Damme.'
State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan warned high schools students on Monday against lynching a neutralized terrorist, arguing that "you are not Van Damme."
Speaking to the students during an online lecture on human rights, Nitzan stressed the importance of leaders making it clear to the public that they must not take the law into their own hands and attack a neutralized terrorist, warning that "whoever act violently against a terrorist who no longer presents a danger will be prosecuted."
Nitzan said that education classes must be held in each school to explain to young people what is allowed and what is forbidden during terrorist attacks in order for Israel to maintain its humanity.
"Once the terrorist is neutralized, there should not be violence done to them by a citizen. If he is handcuffed it is forbidden to beat him up. It is forbidden to hit. You are not Van Damme. You're not the police, not judges, not God."
Nitzan quoted the Talmud which states that "If someone comes to kill you, get up early to kill him first," but called to exercise discretion.
"If a policeman sees someone trying to stab another person, it is clear that it his obligation to remove the danger and if the only way is to shoot the stabber, this is his duty as a cop. One must not shoot him in the center of the body in order to kill him. If he is too close, then you can fire at the center of the body only if it is essential to remove the danger," he said.
However, the state prosecutor made it clear that if anyone misjudges the danger and the error is genuine and reasonable, he will be protected before the law.
"One is permitted to use violence during a terrorist attack only when required. Whoever resorts to violence, even against a terrorist, will be prosecuted because we live in a state of law," he explained.
Nitzan's lecture also addressed the issue of the demolition of terrorists' houses and said that it was "a very extreme step that Israel tries to avoid due to the fact that innocent people are hurt."
However, Nitzan said that security officials presented evidence before the High Court that showed that house demolitions is an effective deterrent for some of those who are planning attacks.
Nitzan also called on young people to refrain from incitement on the internet. According to him, it is possible to express any opinion, but not incitement to racism and violence.
"It's evil and accomplishes nothing but release stress and frustration. The Jewish people endured two thousand years of racism and know that it can lead to bad acts. We can not go down that road because it is immoral and contradicts the heritage of Judaism and Islam," he asserted.
