4 dec 2015
Relatives of 18-month-old Palestinian Ali Saad Dawabsha, who died after his house was set on fire by Jewish extremists, mourn next to his body on July 31, 2015.
Several Israeli youths connected to Jewish extremist organizations have been arrested by Israeli forces for suspected involvement in a fatal arson attack on a Palestinian family in July, Shin Bet said on Thursday.
An Israeli police spokeswoman for Arab media, Luba al-Samri, confirmed that police "recently arrested young men suspected of membership in a Jewish terrorist organization, and of carrying out different terrorist attacks."
"Specific suspicions are being examined about involvement in the abominable terrorist attack of torching the home of the Dawabsha family in the Palestinian town of Douma," she added. The information about the arrests was released after a weeks-long gag order was partially lifted on investigations into those responsible for the murder of three members of the Dawabsha family in the Palestinian village of Douma outside of Nablus.
All other information regarding the investigation is still under a gag order requested by the Israeli police.
Suspects involved in the attack were identified by Israel’s defense establishment in September but no charges were filed at the time, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
On July 31, suspected Israeli settlers smashed the windows of the Dawabsha family home before throwing flammable liquids and Molotov cocktails inside.
Locals told Ma’an News Agency, at the time, that the words "revenge" and "long live the Messiah" were sprayed in Hebrew on the site of the house.
Ali Saad Dawabsha, one-and-a-half years old, was trapped in the house and burned alive. The infant's mother and father, Riham and Saad, later died from severe burns.
The attack sparked criticism from the international community for Israel's failure to hold Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists accountable for attacks on Palestinians, in effect being complicit in such attacks. Israeli leadership at the time condemned the Dawabsha attack as "terrorism," and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Israeli rights group B'Tselem slammed the reaction by Israeli officials as "empty rhetoric."
"Official condemnations of this attack are empty rhetoric as long as politicians continue their policy of avoiding enforcement of the law on Israelis who harm Palestinians, and do not deal with the public climate and the incitement which serve as backdrop to these acts," the group said, at the time.
Thursday’s partial lift on the gag-order came one day after the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, criticized Israel for the "slow progress" in investigating the arson.
Several Israeli youths connected to Jewish extremist organizations have been arrested by Israeli forces for suspected involvement in a fatal arson attack on a Palestinian family in July, Shin Bet said on Thursday.
An Israeli police spokeswoman for Arab media, Luba al-Samri, confirmed that police "recently arrested young men suspected of membership in a Jewish terrorist organization, and of carrying out different terrorist attacks."
"Specific suspicions are being examined about involvement in the abominable terrorist attack of torching the home of the Dawabsha family in the Palestinian town of Douma," she added. The information about the arrests was released after a weeks-long gag order was partially lifted on investigations into those responsible for the murder of three members of the Dawabsha family in the Palestinian village of Douma outside of Nablus.
All other information regarding the investigation is still under a gag order requested by the Israeli police.
Suspects involved in the attack were identified by Israel’s defense establishment in September but no charges were filed at the time, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
On July 31, suspected Israeli settlers smashed the windows of the Dawabsha family home before throwing flammable liquids and Molotov cocktails inside.
Locals told Ma’an News Agency, at the time, that the words "revenge" and "long live the Messiah" were sprayed in Hebrew on the site of the house.
Ali Saad Dawabsha, one-and-a-half years old, was trapped in the house and burned alive. The infant's mother and father, Riham and Saad, later died from severe burns.
The attack sparked criticism from the international community for Israel's failure to hold Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists accountable for attacks on Palestinians, in effect being complicit in such attacks. Israeli leadership at the time condemned the Dawabsha attack as "terrorism," and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Israeli rights group B'Tselem slammed the reaction by Israeli officials as "empty rhetoric."
"Official condemnations of this attack are empty rhetoric as long as politicians continue their policy of avoiding enforcement of the law on Israelis who harm Palestinians, and do not deal with the public climate and the incitement which serve as backdrop to these acts," the group said, at the time.
Thursday’s partial lift on the gag-order came one day after the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, criticized Israel for the "slow progress" in investigating the arson.
3 dec 2015
2 dec 2015
The Israeli police released on Tuesday evening three Israeli settlers suspected in setting fire to a number of Palestinian vehicles last week in occupied Jerusalem.
Yediot Aharanot Hebrew newspaper said that the three suspects were conditionally released, without revealing the release terms.
Investigation into the arson attack is still in progress, the sources added.
Settlers often carry out violent attacks against Palestinians and their property with complete legal immunity, and often with more than implicit support from the Israeli army itself. In fact, Israeli soldiers often protect and assist settlers, and legal proceedings are rarely brought against them.
Yediot Aharanot Hebrew newspaper said that the three suspects were conditionally released, without revealing the release terms.
Investigation into the arson attack is still in progress, the sources added.
Settlers often carry out violent attacks against Palestinians and their property with complete legal immunity, and often with more than implicit support from the Israeli army itself. In fact, Israeli soldiers often protect and assist settlers, and legal proceedings are rarely brought against them.
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.
Serious development reported in major Jewish terrorism case
Not much can be said regarding the major development in the recent case involving Jewish terrorism, but the evidence gathered was sufficient to issue a gag order over details of the case.
A serious development has been reported the large scale investigation of one of the most serious acts of Jewish terrorism to take place in recent years.
There are only two things that can be said about the development: It has led the Shin Bet, security establishment, and police to an optimistic outlook regarding solving the crime, and the likelihood of submitting an indictment to prosecute those responsible.
The second is that police have filed for and received a gag order to cover all details of the investigation. As such there is not much that can be said of the development at this point.
A relative of the family hurt by the Jewish terror acts told Ynet he received no updates from Israeli authorities about a development in the investigation.
"When it's Jewish terrorists, the defense establishment works slowly," the relative said angrily. "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."
'I don't cooperate with those fighting against Jews'
The development is even more significant due to the fact that few acts of Jewish terrorism are ever solved, in light of increased efforts by the security establishment to attain sufficient evidence to built indictments against individuals for attacks against Palestinians.
There is difficulty in bringing Jewish perpetrators of terror attacks against Palestinians to justice, as attested to by comments made by a Jewish teenager who was arrested in the past on suspicion of involvement in such an attack.
"I don't cooperate with people who fight against the Jewish people and the land of Israel, people who are the representatives of the foreign rule in our country," the teenager said at the time.
He was arrested with six others on suspicion they set fire to Arab homes in the West Bank. "During questioning, the interrogator tried to trick me by telling me my friends had already talked. But I didn't cooperate with the interrogators," he said.
"We are slaves only to God. No one can scare us - not the Shin Bet, nor any other institution in Israel. We'll continue to work for the formation of a Jewish state and the construction of the Temple," the teenage, who is now 17, said at the time.
Attorney Ariel Atari, who represents Jewish terror suspects, expressed doubt any indictments will come out of this development, saying police in the past claimed to have sufficient evidence in cases, but it later transpired that was not the case.
Atari said he advises his clients "to either remain silent during questioning, or tell the truth, based on the case. I explain to them that insisting on their rights is essential to help the truth come to light and to prevent situations in which suspects give false versions of incidents that never happened."
Meanwhile, over 4,000 Israelis signed a petition calling to prosecute the murderers of the Dawabsheh family.
"Defense Minister Ya'alon said several times that the defense establishment knows the identity of the murderers - but for different reasons they were not prosecuted," the petition says. "We cannot stand by while the killers of an Arab family live among us and are not made to face justice. This is a discrimination between one kind of blood and another, it is a message that the killing of innocent Arabs is allowed."
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.
Serious development reported in major Jewish terrorism case
Not much can be said regarding the major development in the recent case involving Jewish terrorism, but the evidence gathered was sufficient to issue a gag order over details of the case.
A serious development has been reported the large scale investigation of one of the most serious acts of Jewish terrorism to take place in recent years.
There are only two things that can be said about the development: It has led the Shin Bet, security establishment, and police to an optimistic outlook regarding solving the crime, and the likelihood of submitting an indictment to prosecute those responsible.
The second is that police have filed for and received a gag order to cover all details of the investigation. As such there is not much that can be said of the development at this point.
A relative of the family hurt by the Jewish terror acts told Ynet he received no updates from Israeli authorities about a development in the investigation.
"When it's Jewish terrorists, the defense establishment works slowly," the relative said angrily. "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."
'I don't cooperate with those fighting against Jews'
The development is even more significant due to the fact that few acts of Jewish terrorism are ever solved, in light of increased efforts by the security establishment to attain sufficient evidence to built indictments against individuals for attacks against Palestinians.
There is difficulty in bringing Jewish perpetrators of terror attacks against Palestinians to justice, as attested to by comments made by a Jewish teenager who was arrested in the past on suspicion of involvement in such an attack.
"I don't cooperate with people who fight against the Jewish people and the land of Israel, people who are the representatives of the foreign rule in our country," the teenager said at the time.
He was arrested with six others on suspicion they set fire to Arab homes in the West Bank. "During questioning, the interrogator tried to trick me by telling me my friends had already talked. But I didn't cooperate with the interrogators," he said.
"We are slaves only to God. No one can scare us - not the Shin Bet, nor any other institution in Israel. We'll continue to work for the formation of a Jewish state and the construction of the Temple," the teenage, who is now 17, said at the time.
Attorney Ariel Atari, who represents Jewish terror suspects, expressed doubt any indictments will come out of this development, saying police in the past claimed to have sufficient evidence in cases, but it later transpired that was not the case.
Atari said he advises his clients "to either remain silent during questioning, or tell the truth, based on the case. I explain to them that insisting on their rights is essential to help the truth come to light and to prevent situations in which suspects give false versions of incidents that never happened."
Meanwhile, over 4,000 Israelis signed a petition calling to prosecute the murderers of the Dawabsheh family.
"Defense Minister Ya'alon said several times that the defense establishment knows the identity of the murderers - but for different reasons they were not prosecuted," the petition says. "We cannot stand by while the killers of an Arab family live among us and are not made to face justice. This is a discrimination between one kind of blood and another, it is a message that the killing of innocent Arabs is allowed."
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.
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."
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.
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."
30 nov 2015
Yosef Ben David
Israel's Jerusalem District Court on Monday convicted two Israelis for the murder of Palestinian teenager Muhammad Abu Khdeir last summer, with a third suspect who admitted to the killing escaping conviction on the grounds of his mental health.
The conviction of Yosef Ben David, the ringleader of the gang that kidnapped, assaulted, and burned Muhammad, 16, to death, was suspended to allow for a last minute psychiatric evaluation, Israeli news site Haaretz reported.
The 31-year-old suspect's lawyer submitted an evaluation last week declaring that he was not responsible for his actions at the time of the murder.
The two Israeli youths found guilty will be sentenced on Jan. 13, according to the AFP news agency, while another hearing for Ben David was set for Dec. 20.
Following the ruling, Abu Khdeir's father Hussein told Ma'an: “I will not accept less than a lifetime prison sentence and demand to demolish their houses”
He added:“I don’t believe in the Israeli judiciary, and I want to see if they will be fair or not. We will go to the International Criminal Court if the Israeli court mitigates their sentence."
All three suspects confessed to the murder during questioning by Israeli police, admitting to beating the Palestinian teenager unconscious before pouring flammable liquid on him and burning him alive.
The suspects said it was revenge for the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers.
The group drove around for hours to find a suitable victim before kidnapping Abu Khdeir at 4 a.m. after he had decided to pray at the mosque in the Shufat neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
They took him to a forest on the outskirts of Jerusalem and hit the teenager with a crowbar while shouting "this is for the Fogel family" and "this is for Gilad, Naphtali and Eyal," Israeli news site Ynet reported.
They set fire to him and then fled the scene.
The grisly murder sparked shock, disgust and an outpouring of condemnation from both Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the time.
The June 2014 abduction of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrach from a hitchhiking stop near Hebron sparked a vast Israeli search operation targeting Hamas, who denied involvement in the killings, in which hundreds of Palestinians were arrested and at least five killed.
The brutal revenge killing of Abu Khdeir led to widespread demonstrations and clashes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem which was followed by an uptick in rocket fire from Gaza, and the launch on July 8 of a full-scale Israeli military operation against the Mediterranean enclave, which killed over 2,200 Palestinians, including 500 children.
Israeli court acquits settler responsible for Abu Khudeir’s murder
Israeli court has found the main suspect in the burning of a Palestinian child to death last year not guilty on the grounds of his mental health.
The conviction of Yosef Ben David, the ringleader of the gang that kidnapped, assaulted, and burned Muhammad Abu Khudeir, 16, to death, was suspended to allow for a last minute psychiatric evaluation, Israeli news site Haaretz reported.
The 31-year-old suspect's lawyer submitted an evaluation last week declaring that “he was not responsible for his actions at the time of the murder.”
However, two Israeli boys aged 14 were found guilty in the crime.
During the investigation, David admitted that he took Abu Khudeir to a forest on the outskirts of occupied Jerusalem and hit the boy with a crowbar before setting fire to him and then fled the scene.
All the Israeli three suspects confessed to the murder during the questioning, admitting to beating the Palestinian boy unconscious before pouring flammable liquid on him and burning him alive.
The father of the Palestinian victim attended the court session along with a number of Palestinian activists.
On July 2, 2014 a group of Israeli settlers kidnapped the Palestinian child Mohamed Abu Khudeir, 16, and burned him alive to death after being severely beaten and tortured.
The crime led to widespread demonstrations and clashes in the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem which was followed by a brutal aggression on Gaza that killed over 2,200 Palestinians, including 500 children.
Israel's Jerusalem District Court on Monday convicted two Israelis for the murder of Palestinian teenager Muhammad Abu Khdeir last summer, with a third suspect who admitted to the killing escaping conviction on the grounds of his mental health.
The conviction of Yosef Ben David, the ringleader of the gang that kidnapped, assaulted, and burned Muhammad, 16, to death, was suspended to allow for a last minute psychiatric evaluation, Israeli news site Haaretz reported.
The 31-year-old suspect's lawyer submitted an evaluation last week declaring that he was not responsible for his actions at the time of the murder.
The two Israeli youths found guilty will be sentenced on Jan. 13, according to the AFP news agency, while another hearing for Ben David was set for Dec. 20.
Following the ruling, Abu Khdeir's father Hussein told Ma'an: “I will not accept less than a lifetime prison sentence and demand to demolish their houses”
He added:“I don’t believe in the Israeli judiciary, and I want to see if they will be fair or not. We will go to the International Criminal Court if the Israeli court mitigates their sentence."
All three suspects confessed to the murder during questioning by Israeli police, admitting to beating the Palestinian teenager unconscious before pouring flammable liquid on him and burning him alive.
The suspects said it was revenge for the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers.
The group drove around for hours to find a suitable victim before kidnapping Abu Khdeir at 4 a.m. after he had decided to pray at the mosque in the Shufat neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
They took him to a forest on the outskirts of Jerusalem and hit the teenager with a crowbar while shouting "this is for the Fogel family" and "this is for Gilad, Naphtali and Eyal," Israeli news site Ynet reported.
They set fire to him and then fled the scene.
The grisly murder sparked shock, disgust and an outpouring of condemnation from both Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the time.
The June 2014 abduction of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrach from a hitchhiking stop near Hebron sparked a vast Israeli search operation targeting Hamas, who denied involvement in the killings, in which hundreds of Palestinians were arrested and at least five killed.
The brutal revenge killing of Abu Khdeir led to widespread demonstrations and clashes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem which was followed by an uptick in rocket fire from Gaza, and the launch on July 8 of a full-scale Israeli military operation against the Mediterranean enclave, which killed over 2,200 Palestinians, including 500 children.
Israeli court acquits settler responsible for Abu Khudeir’s murder
Israeli court has found the main suspect in the burning of a Palestinian child to death last year not guilty on the grounds of his mental health.
The conviction of Yosef Ben David, the ringleader of the gang that kidnapped, assaulted, and burned Muhammad Abu Khudeir, 16, to death, was suspended to allow for a last minute psychiatric evaluation, Israeli news site Haaretz reported.
The 31-year-old suspect's lawyer submitted an evaluation last week declaring that “he was not responsible for his actions at the time of the murder.”
However, two Israeli boys aged 14 were found guilty in the crime.
During the investigation, David admitted that he took Abu Khudeir to a forest on the outskirts of occupied Jerusalem and hit the boy with a crowbar before setting fire to him and then fled the scene.
All the Israeli three suspects confessed to the murder during the questioning, admitting to beating the Palestinian boy unconscious before pouring flammable liquid on him and burning him alive.
The father of the Palestinian victim attended the court session along with a number of Palestinian activists.
On July 2, 2014 a group of Israeli settlers kidnapped the Palestinian child Mohamed Abu Khudeir, 16, and burned him alive to death after being severely beaten and tortured.
The crime led to widespread demonstrations and clashes in the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem which was followed by a brutal aggression on Gaza that killed over 2,200 Palestinians, including 500 children.
An Israeli fanatic settler stabbed and wounded two Palestinian brothers in Kafr Kana, in 1948 Occupied Palestine, on Sunday.
According to the victims' father, Muhammad Abu Khalaf, an Israeli fanatic knifed his two sons at a gas station near Tiberias city and disappeared right away.
He added that his sons were rushed to the Poriya hospital in Tiberias to be urgently treated for the inflicted wounds.
Abu Khalaf slammed the “racist” stabbing attack saying: “My sons only mistake was that they spoke Arabic, their mother tongue.”
He said the Israeli police launched a probe into the stabbing and found no difficulty identifying the assailant based on surveillance cameras installed across the station.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Racism Coalition in 1948 Occupied Palestine said the racist attacks carried out by Israeli fanatics have seen a dramatic surge over the past few weeks.
According to the victims' father, Muhammad Abu Khalaf, an Israeli fanatic knifed his two sons at a gas station near Tiberias city and disappeared right away.
He added that his sons were rushed to the Poriya hospital in Tiberias to be urgently treated for the inflicted wounds.
Abu Khalaf slammed the “racist” stabbing attack saying: “My sons only mistake was that they spoke Arabic, their mother tongue.”
He said the Israeli police launched a probe into the stabbing and found no difficulty identifying the assailant based on surveillance cameras installed across the station.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Racism Coalition in 1948 Occupied Palestine said the racist attacks carried out by Israeli fanatics have seen a dramatic surge over the past few weeks.
Yinon Magal of Bayit Yehudi announces resignation to party chairman Naftali Bennet, who called it 'a worthy act'.
Member of Knesset Yinon Magal (Bayit Yehudi) announced Monday to his party chairman, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, that he wished to resign from his position in Knesset due to sexual harassment accusations against him.
Magal told Bennett that although he was sure his actions were not criminal in nature, he realized that people were hurt by his conduct in the past and he therefore wanted to leave his position.
Bennett, who is on a public relations campaign in the United States, said that he "accepted the resignation of Yinon, it is a worthy act. I hope that the process in which he is currently involved ends as quickly as possible and that he will be able to devote himself to his family and continue on his path."
Currently, police have the evidence of three women who reported alleged inappropriate behavior on the the part of Magal. Police have expanded their investigation and on Sunday sent a team of investigators to Israeli news site Walla, where Magal used to work as chief editor.
The alleged harassment took place, according to the accusers, when Magal served as the editor of the highly popular news site.
Journalist Racheli Rottner of Walla described an event that occurred during Magal’s goodbye party at the company. According to Rottner, Magal told her at the party that he was aroused by her during their time working together, specifically mentioning that he thought about her breasts and buttocks and talked about them with others.
A short time after that, Or Shukrun, another former Walla employee, published a post in which she claimed MK Magal harassed her. Shukrun claimed that Magal touched her buttocks several times, ignoring her requests that he stop, and that he asked her several harassing questions, such as whether she would like to join him in the bathroom stall.
Member of Knesset Yinon Magal (Bayit Yehudi) announced Monday to his party chairman, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, that he wished to resign from his position in Knesset due to sexual harassment accusations against him.
Magal told Bennett that although he was sure his actions were not criminal in nature, he realized that people were hurt by his conduct in the past and he therefore wanted to leave his position.
Bennett, who is on a public relations campaign in the United States, said that he "accepted the resignation of Yinon, it is a worthy act. I hope that the process in which he is currently involved ends as quickly as possible and that he will be able to devote himself to his family and continue on his path."
Currently, police have the evidence of three women who reported alleged inappropriate behavior on the the part of Magal. Police have expanded their investigation and on Sunday sent a team of investigators to Israeli news site Walla, where Magal used to work as chief editor.
The alleged harassment took place, according to the accusers, when Magal served as the editor of the highly popular news site.
Journalist Racheli Rottner of Walla described an event that occurred during Magal’s goodbye party at the company. According to Rottner, Magal told her at the party that he was aroused by her during their time working together, specifically mentioning that he thought about her breasts and buttocks and talked about them with others.
A short time after that, Or Shukrun, another former Walla employee, published a post in which she claimed MK Magal harassed her. Shukrun claimed that Magal touched her buttocks several times, ignoring her requests that he stop, and that he asked her several harassing questions, such as whether she would like to join him in the bathroom stall.
26 nov 2015
Major general denies making inappropriate comments and trying to kiss female officer at event five years ago; he is the latest in long list of senior officers in hot waters over criminal investigations.
The Police Investigations Unit questioned a high-ranked police officer for seven hours on Wednesday night over allegations he sexually harassed a policewoman five years ago.
The officer, a major-general, has gone on a forced week-long hiatus, during which he is forbidden from contacting anyone involved in the investigation.
He vehemently denied the claims attributed to him, according to which he made comments that were sexual in nature and tried to kiss a female police officer during an event they both attended five years ago.
This officer has been involved in the investigation of several criminal cases against high-ranked police officers, including some that deal with sex crimes.
In recent years, more and more senior police officers came under scrutiny in a series of cases that left the police's national headquarters nearly empty.
Deputy Commissioner Nissim Mor was fired in January after suspicions of sexual harassment, indecent acts, and sexual relations with female officers were raised against him.
Shortly after that, the head of the Judea and Samaria District, Maj.-Gen. Kobi Cohen, retired from the police after the Police Investigations Unit launched an investigation against him in which he admitted to having had an inappropriate relationship with an officer under his command.
Before him came the former head of the Jerusalem District, Maj.-Gen. Niso Shaham, who was accused of having sex with female officers under his command. He was dismissed from the force in October 2013 by then-public security minister Yitzhak Aharonovich, based on a recommendation from then-commissioner Yohanan Danino.
Another case involved former Lahav 433 commander Maj.-Gen. Menashe Arviv, who was accused by Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto (who was later convicted of corruption) of receiving illicit benefits. Arviv denied the allegations, but took a hiatus from the police and later retired from the force, claiming he was a victim of a delay of justice.
Maj.-Gen. Bruno Stein, the former commander of the Central District, also retired from the force after being photographed at a party hosted by attorney Ronel Fisher, who has been accused of bribing police officers so they would close his clients' cases.
Jerusalem District commander Maj.-Gen. Yossi Pariente retired from the force citing "personal reasons" after announcing he would not run for police commissioner. Later, claims emerged that the reasons behind his retirement were allegations of sexual harassment.
Another case involved the commander of the Coastal District, Maj.-Gen. Hagai Dotan, who in 2011 admitted to signing off on the closing of a case against him over a car accident he was involved in. Police investigators found that he was not guilty in the 2008 accident, but Dotan - instead of disqualifying himself - signed off on the closing of the case against him and on the recommendation to prosecute the driver who caused the accident.
The Police Investigations Unit questioned a high-ranked police officer for seven hours on Wednesday night over allegations he sexually harassed a policewoman five years ago.
The officer, a major-general, has gone on a forced week-long hiatus, during which he is forbidden from contacting anyone involved in the investigation.
He vehemently denied the claims attributed to him, according to which he made comments that were sexual in nature and tried to kiss a female police officer during an event they both attended five years ago.
This officer has been involved in the investigation of several criminal cases against high-ranked police officers, including some that deal with sex crimes.
In recent years, more and more senior police officers came under scrutiny in a series of cases that left the police's national headquarters nearly empty.
Deputy Commissioner Nissim Mor was fired in January after suspicions of sexual harassment, indecent acts, and sexual relations with female officers were raised against him.
Shortly after that, the head of the Judea and Samaria District, Maj.-Gen. Kobi Cohen, retired from the police after the Police Investigations Unit launched an investigation against him in which he admitted to having had an inappropriate relationship with an officer under his command.
Before him came the former head of the Jerusalem District, Maj.-Gen. Niso Shaham, who was accused of having sex with female officers under his command. He was dismissed from the force in October 2013 by then-public security minister Yitzhak Aharonovich, based on a recommendation from then-commissioner Yohanan Danino.
Another case involved former Lahav 433 commander Maj.-Gen. Menashe Arviv, who was accused by Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto (who was later convicted of corruption) of receiving illicit benefits. Arviv denied the allegations, but took a hiatus from the police and later retired from the force, claiming he was a victim of a delay of justice.
Maj.-Gen. Bruno Stein, the former commander of the Central District, also retired from the force after being photographed at a party hosted by attorney Ronel Fisher, who has been accused of bribing police officers so they would close his clients' cases.
Jerusalem District commander Maj.-Gen. Yossi Pariente retired from the force citing "personal reasons" after announcing he would not run for police commissioner. Later, claims emerged that the reasons behind his retirement were allegations of sexual harassment.
Another case involved the commander of the Coastal District, Maj.-Gen. Hagai Dotan, who in 2011 admitted to signing off on the closing of a case against him over a car accident he was involved in. Police investigators found that he was not guilty in the 2008 accident, but Dotan - instead of disqualifying himself - signed off on the closing of the case against him and on the recommendation to prosecute the driver who caused the accident.
24 nov 2015
MK Yinon Magal
Minister of Social Equality Gila Gamliel has called for a criminal investigation against the Jewish Home MK, who is being accused of harassment by former employees of his.
Bayit Yehudi MK Yinon Magal was in the eye of a public storm on Tuesday as accusations arose from different women who used to work with him that he sexually harassed them.
The alleged harassment took place, according to the accusers, when Magal served as the editor of highly popular Israeli news site Walla.
Minister of Social Equality Gila Gamliel, of the Likud party, called for the start of a criminal investigation against Magal.
“We cannot let this pass by. The claims against Yinon Magal must be investigated thoroughly,” said Gamliel. She added that “Women in Israel must go to work, and everywhere, without fearing harassment. The state has to protect that basic right. If there is truth in these matters we must open a criminal investigation and suspend MK Magal from the Knesset.”
Bayit Yehudi leader, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, called Magal over for a one-on-one meeting. Meanwhile, MK Yoel Hasson (Zionist Union) announced that he would be boycotting a Tuesday evening event at Tel Aviv University, due to Magal’s expected involvement.
The criticism is also coming from inside party ranks: Yehudit Shilat, founder of the Takana forum for the prevention of sexual harassment, who was a Bayit Yehudi candidate for the Knesset (but was not positioned in a realistically electable spot) has called for Magal’s removal from the position of Bayit Yehudi Knesset faction leader.
Minister of Social Equality Gila Gamliel has called for a criminal investigation against the Jewish Home MK, who is being accused of harassment by former employees of his.
Bayit Yehudi MK Yinon Magal was in the eye of a public storm on Tuesday as accusations arose from different women who used to work with him that he sexually harassed them.
The alleged harassment took place, according to the accusers, when Magal served as the editor of highly popular Israeli news site Walla.
Minister of Social Equality Gila Gamliel, of the Likud party, called for the start of a criminal investigation against Magal.
“We cannot let this pass by. The claims against Yinon Magal must be investigated thoroughly,” said Gamliel. She added that “Women in Israel must go to work, and everywhere, without fearing harassment. The state has to protect that basic right. If there is truth in these matters we must open a criminal investigation and suspend MK Magal from the Knesset.”
Bayit Yehudi leader, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, called Magal over for a one-on-one meeting. Meanwhile, MK Yoel Hasson (Zionist Union) announced that he would be boycotting a Tuesday evening event at Tel Aviv University, due to Magal’s expected involvement.
The criticism is also coming from inside party ranks: Yehudit Shilat, founder of the Takana forum for the prevention of sexual harassment, who was a Bayit Yehudi candidate for the Knesset (but was not positioned in a realistically electable spot) has called for Magal’s removal from the position of Bayit Yehudi Knesset faction leader.
Minister Gamliel
In a post published today, journalist Racheli Rottner of Walla described an event that occurred during Magal’s goodbye party from Walla. According to Rottner, Magal told her at the party that he was aroused by her during their time working together, specifically mentioning that he thought about her breasts and buttocks and talked about them with others.
A short time after that, Or Shukrun. Another former Walla employee, published a post in which she claimed MK Magal harassed her. Shukrun claimed that Magal touched her buttocks several times, ignoring her requests that he stop, and that he asked her several harassing questions, such as whether she would like to join him in the bathroom stall.
Magal published an apology, saying, “First of all I’d like to apologize – there are things that were said between friends before I became an MK and I wouldn’t repeat them today, I ask for the forgiveness of anyone who was hurt. Having said that, I’d expect a friend who was hurt to tell me so and not turn to social media shaming.”
In a post published today, journalist Racheli Rottner of Walla described an event that occurred during Magal’s goodbye party from Walla. According to Rottner, Magal told her at the party that he was aroused by her during their time working together, specifically mentioning that he thought about her breasts and buttocks and talked about them with others.
A short time after that, Or Shukrun. Another former Walla employee, published a post in which she claimed MK Magal harassed her. Shukrun claimed that Magal touched her buttocks several times, ignoring her requests that he stop, and that he asked her several harassing questions, such as whether she would like to join him in the bathroom stall.
Magal published an apology, saying, “First of all I’d like to apologize – there are things that were said between friends before I became an MK and I wouldn’t repeat them today, I ask for the forgiveness of anyone who was hurt. Having said that, I’d expect a friend who was hurt to tell me so and not turn to social media shaming.”
