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From the first day, the Israeli authorities imposed a press embargo on the subject, banning the media from publishing any details or developments related to the investigation. On 31 August 2015, the embargo was extended by a month<ref>[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/20766-israel-extends-media-blackout-on-deadly-arson-attack-%20developments ''Israel extends media blackout on deadly arson attack developments'']. The Middle East Monitor, 1 September 2015</ref>
From the first day, the Israeli authorities imposed a press embargo on the subject, banning the media from publishing any details or developments related to the investigation. On 31 August 2015, the embargo was extended by a month<ref>[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/20766-israel-extends-media-blackout-on-deadly-arson-attack-%20developments ''Israel extends media blackout on deadly arson attack developments'']. The Middle East Monitor, 1 September 2015</ref>


The Israeli investigators and international observers immediately suspected Jews of committing the attack.<ref name="NYT3172015" >Diaa Hadid and Jodi Rudoren, [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/01/world/middleeast/west-bank-arson-palestinian-toddler.html 'Jewish Arsonists Suspected in West Bank Attack That Killed Palestinian Toddler,'] [[New York Times]] 31 July 2015.</ref><ref name="USNEWS" >Mohammed Daraghmeh,Tia Goldenberg,[http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/07/31/israeli-military-child-killed-in-west-bank-attack 'Jewish Attack on Palestinian Home Kills Toddler,'] [[Associated Press]] 31 July 2015.</ref><ref name="Goldberg" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-07-31/palestinian-toddler-killed-in-arson-named-as-ali-dawabshe/|title=Palestinian toddler killed in suspected arson attack|date=31 July 2015|publisher=ITV News|accessdate=5 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Lahav Harkov "/> Several young men alleged to have been instigators were not [[Sabra (person)|native-born Israelis]] but came from American immigrant families.<ref name="Hirschhorn" /> A manual of incitement written by Moshe Orbach, an Israeli from [[Bnai Brak]], entitled “Kingdom of Evil,” which provides details on how to set fire to mosques, churches and Palestinian homes, has also been mentioned in connection with the Duma attack.<ref>Jamal Kanj [http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=767582 'Analysis: Burned alive by Israelis,'] [[Ma'an News Agency]] 13 September 2015.</ref>
The Israeli investigators and international observers immediately suspected [[Jewish settlers]] of committing the attack.<ref name="NYT3172015" >Diaa Hadid and Jodi Rudoren, [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/01/world/middleeast/west-bank-arson-palestinian-toddler.html 'Jewish Arsonists Suspected in West Bank Attack That Killed Palestinian Toddler,'] [[New York Times]] 31 July 2015.</ref><ref name="USNEWS" >Mohammed Daraghmeh,Tia Goldenberg,[http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/07/31/israeli-military-child-killed-in-west-bank-attack 'Jewish Attack on Palestinian Home Kills Toddler,'] [[Associated Press]] 31 July 2015.</ref><ref name="Goldberg" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-07-31/palestinian-toddler-killed-in-arson-named-as-ali-dawabshe/|title=Palestinian toddler killed in suspected arson attack|date=31 July 2015|publisher=ITV News|accessdate=5 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Lahav Harkov "/> Several young men alleged to have been instigators were not [[Sabra (person)|native-born Israelis]] but came from American immigrant families.<ref name="Hirschhorn" /> A manual of incitement written by Moshe Orbach, an Israeli from [[Bnai Brak]], entitled “Kingdom of Evil,” which provides details on how to set fire to mosques, churches and Palestinian homes, has also been mentioned in connection with the Duma attack.<ref>Jamal Kanj [http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=767582 'Analysis: Burned alive by Israelis,'] [[Ma'an News Agency]] 13 September 2015.</ref>


Israeli police initially suspected that the arson was a [[price tag policy|price tag]] attack by "extremist Israeli settlers"; some speculated that it might have been undertaken in retaliation for the demolition by the IDF of illegal Jewish settlement structures in [[Beit El]], 'the flagship of the ideological settler movement,'<ref name="Goldberg" /> some time earlier.<ref name=Martin>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Patrick|title=Palestinian child’s death in terrorist attack stirs call to end violence|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/west-bank-on-edge-as-palestinian-toddler-killed-in-arson-attack-laid-to-rest/article25798195/|accessdate=2 August 2015|publisher=Globe and Mail|date=31 July 2015}}</ref>
Israeli police initially suspected that the arson was a [[price tag policy|price tag]] attack by "extremist Israeli settlers"; some speculated that it might have been undertaken in retaliation for the demolition by the IDF of illegal Jewish settlement structures in [[Beit El]], 'the flagship of the ideological settler movement,'<ref name="Goldberg" /> some time earlier.<ref name=Martin>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Patrick|title=Palestinian child’s death in terrorist attack stirs call to end violence|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/west-bank-on-edge-as-palestinian-toddler-killed-in-arson-attack-laid-to-rest/article25798195/|accessdate=2 August 2015|publisher=Globe and Mail|date=31 July 2015}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:27, 23 September 2015

Duma arson attack
Duma village
LocationDuma, Palestinian territories
Date31 July 2015
Attack type
Molotov cocktail
Deaths3
Injured1

The Duma village arson attack refers to the firebombing of a Palestinian family in late July 2015, resulting in the loss of life of three of the family members; 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh was burned alive in the fire, while both his parent died from their injuries within weeks.[1] No charges have yet been filed in the case, though the Israeli security establishment deem Jewish extremists to be responsible for the arson.[2][3][4]

An Israeli media ban prohibiting the publication of details of the investigation into the firebombing is currently in place.[5]

Arson attack

Dawabsheh family home after ignition
"Revenge" graffiti in Hebrew, on the wall of the house

On 31 July 2015, two family homes in Duma, a Palestinian village in the West Bank, were firebombed by masked attackers. In the first house, 18-month-old Ali Sa'ad Dawabsheh was burnt to death; his parents and 4-year-old brother were critically injured and rushed to Israeli hospitals, the father died of his burns several days later.[6][7][8] Five weeks later, the mother, Reham Dawabsheh, died of her injuries.[9]

According to local accounts, the family had returned home from a visit with relatives at around 1:30 am, and sometime after they went to bed, between 2 and 4 am.,[10] two masked assailants smashed windows and threw Molotov cocktails into the sleeping quarters. The IDF stated that windows had been smashed before the firebombs were lobbed in.[11] Another version claims that the house itself was doused and set alight.[12] Neighbors stated that both parents emerged from their home enveloped in flames, while two masked men were observed fleeing the scene.[10] Haaretz, however, pointed out that the torched houses were in the middle of the town, far from the outskirts and that it would not have been easy for outside intruders to "make a getaway."[13]

The family's neighbor Ibrahim Dawabsheh, a construction worker in the Shilo settlement, reported that he heard his neighbours' screams, and on running to the site, saw 2 men standing over Reham and Saad's burning bodies. They followed him when he retreated, until he was joined by his brother.[14] The mother, Riham (27), herself engulfed by flames,[7][11] according to her brother-in-law, grabbed a blanket in which she thought her youngest child was sleeping, and fled outside only to realize the child was not in the blanket.[7] She had third degree burns over 90% of her body and died on 6 September 2015. According to one report, the father, Saad, managed to carry their son Ahmed (4) outside while sustaining burns over 80% of his body. He subsequently died of his wounds while undergoing treatment in the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva on August 8.[6][15] Another version states that Ahmad was rescued by their neighbor Ibrahim Dawabsheh.[14] Ahmad also suffered serious burns over 60% of his body.[7][16][17]

Investigation

From the first day, the Israeli authorities imposed a press embargo on the subject, banning the media from publishing any details or developments related to the investigation. On 31 August 2015, the embargo was extended by a month[18]

The Israeli investigators and international observers immediately suspected Jewish settlers of committing the attack.[11][19][20][21][22] Several young men alleged to have been instigators were not native-born Israelis but came from American immigrant families.[4] A manual of incitement written by Moshe Orbach, an Israeli from Bnai Brak, entitled “Kingdom of Evil,” which provides details on how to set fire to mosques, churches and Palestinian homes, has also been mentioned in connection with the Duma attack.[23]

Israeli police initially suspected that the arson was a price tag attack by "extremist Israeli settlers"; some speculated that it might have been undertaken in retaliation for the demolition by the IDF of illegal Jewish settlement structures in Beit El, 'the flagship of the ideological settler movement,'[20] some time earlier.[24]

In the Hebrew graffiti, the usual signature of "price tag” (Heb: "Tag Mechir") is lacking, and in its stead the slogans "Revenge," and "Long live King Messiah," (Heb: "Yechi Hamelech Hamashiach ”) were scrawled. The latter is the motto of the messianist wing of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement.[20][25] In addition, a resident told a reporter that he saw attackers fleeing towards the Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Efrayim.[26] Police requested information from the public as they sought to identify the arsonists.[25]

When suspicion fell on West Bank Jewish extremists, Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America alleged that Jews were being "falsely accused" of carrying out the attack, and he instead accused it as being the work of other Palestinians, as part of "an 18-year-old feud between Arab clans" in the village.[22] Israeli Knesset member Oren Hazan, referencing a later separate fire at the house of a brother of Saad Dawabsheh that the Israeli and Palestinian authorities have reported to be unrelated to the arson attack, called for an investigation as he believed that the second fire may indicate that the arson was not committed by Israeli extremists.[27]

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu claimed on 30 August 2015 on Ynet that "The way of terror is not our [Jews] way". Later he claimed; "only someone who lack knowlege in the nuances of the religious community would make such a mistake and assume that "Tag Mechir" activists will write "Yechi Hamelech Hamashiach" ("Long live King Messiah").[28]

On 8 September 2015, a senior Israel Defence Forces officer told the media, that Israel “know[s] unequivocally that this is an act of Jewish terror."[29] On 9 September 2015, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon issued a statement that said "there is a high probability that those responsible for the attack in Duma are part of a very extreme group of Jews" but that there is not yet enough evidence to arrest any suspects.[30][1] Ya'alon also told a group of Likud activists that the identities of the arsonists are known to the defense establishment but that charges would not yet be brought to protect the identity of their sources.[31] Later Ya’alon clarified that security forces have only a “general idea” of who is responsible for the deadly firebombing attack ... calling on reporters to take a wait and see approach to the case".[32] Ya'alon said the attack hurt the state of Israel and the settlement movement specifically.[33] According to Sara Hirschhorn, settler rabbis and the leaders of American immigrant communities in the West Bank have been muted in their responses to the detention of suspects associated with their communities. [4]

Response

On 31 July 2015, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his phone call to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed "shock and horror" at an arson attack telling him that "it's upon us to together fight terror, no matter which side perpetrates it".[34] The European Union and U.S. condemned the attack and the U.S also urged "all sides to maintain calm and avoid escalating tensions in the wake of this tragic incident."[35] In the aftermath of the incident, it was noted that the family was not entitled to compensation for the terror attack, and calls have been made to extend to Palestinian victims of Jewish terrorism compensation which so far is reserved exclusively for Israeli victims of Palestinian terrorism.[36]

B'tselem stated that Israeli condemnations would remain mere rhetoric if such attacks were allowed to continue, noting that in the past three years nine Palestinian homes had been subject to firebombing and no one has yet to be incriminated in any of the cases.[11][failed verification] Yuval Diskin, ex-head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency, reflecting on Israel's response to such attacks, stated that an anarchistic state was being formed in southern West Bank which was violent and developing racist ideologies and that these are being handled tolerantly by the Israeli judicial system. He claimed that, in this part of the West Bank, 'law enforcement is shockingly weak towards Jews.'[37] According to the UN, since the beginning of 2015 at least 120 settler attacks have been documented in West Bank, and Yesh Din statistics suggest over 92.6% of Palestinian complaints lodged with Israeli security forces never led to charges being filed.[38]

The arson was condemned as an act of terrorism by the Palestinian government.[39]

Palestinians responded to the arson with large protests that resulted in violent confrontation with the Israeli forces.[40][41][42] One Palestinian, 17 year old Laith al-Khaldi, was shot by the IDF and later died of his wounds in a Ramallah hospital.[43] 2,000 Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv in a rally organized by Peace Now to protest the incident, and hundreds attended a protest in Jerusalem against the arson.[44]

On August 2, 2015 the Israeli cabinet approved applying administrative detention measures, hitherto used solely against Palestinian suspects, also against Jewish Israeli citizens suspected of participating in terror attacks against Palestinians.[45]

After the attack, the villagers have started patrolling the village to protect it from Israeli settlers.[46]

On August 4, 2015 the police requested information from the public as they seek to identify the arsonists.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ya'alon said to say Israel knows who perpetrated Duma attack". timesofisrael.com. 2015-09-10. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ a b c Sara Hirschhorn,'Israeli Terrorists, Born in the U.S.A. Israeli Terrorists, Born in the U.S.A.,',The New York Times 4 September 4, 2015:'All available evidence suggests that the blaze was a deliberate act of settler terrorism.'
  5. ^ http://m.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Terror-cell-behind-Duma-attack-goes-way-beyond-Price-Tag-activists-415848#article=6018MTQxOTI4RDIwRDUyMkU1NDQ2NTg0NDE2QTc0MThEMEI=
  6. ^ a b of slain Palestinian infant dies from his wounds,' Ma'an News Agency 8 August 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d Khoury, Jack (1 August 2012). "Family of Slain Palestinian Infant Clings to Life, Clashes in West Bank". Haaretz. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  8. ^ West Bank arson: Dead Palestinian child's father dies of wounds, BBC
  9. ^ "Ali Dawabshe's Mother Succumbs to Wounds Sustained in West Bank Arson". Haaretz. September 7, 2015.
  10. ^ a b Noga Tarnopolsky, 'Attack in West Bank Kills Palestinian Child,' Wall Street Journal 31 July 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d Diaa Hadid and Jodi Rudoren, 'Jewish Arsonists Suspected in West Bank Attack That Killed Palestinian Toddler,' New York Times 31 July 2015.
  12. ^ 'Palestinian infant killed in apparent Jewish terror attack,' The Times of Israel 31 July 2015.
  13. ^ Hass, Amira (31 July 2015). "Relative of Arson Attack Victims: I Saw Two Masked Men Standing by as They Burned". HaaretzGetaway. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  14. ^ a b 'Palestinian child dead in suspected Jewish extremist arson attack on home,' The Guardian 31 July 2015.
  15. ^ Ilana Curiel, Rotem Elizera, Elior Levy,'Father of slain Palestinian baby dies of his wounds,' Ynet 8 August 2015.
  16. ^ 'Israeli settlers kill Palestinian toddler in arson attack,’ Ma'an News Agency 31 July 2015
  17. ^ Chaim Levinson, 'Police Seek Public's Help in Murder of Duma Toddler ,' Haaretz 4 August 2015.
  18. ^ Israel extends media blackout on deadly arson attack developments. The Middle East Monitor, 1 September 2015
  19. ^ Mohammed Daraghmeh,Tia Goldenberg,'Jewish Attack on Palestinian Home Kills Toddler,' Associated Press 31 July 2015.
  20. ^ a b c Goldberg, J.J. (1 August 2015). "Why Jewish Terror is Different This Time". Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Palestinian toddler killed in suspected arson attack". ITV News. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  22. ^ a b Lahav Harkov, 'ZOA slams those who ‘rush to blame Jews’ for Duma attack,' Jerusalem Post 6 August 2015.
  23. ^ Jamal Kanj 'Analysis: Burned alive by Israelis,' Ma'an News Agency 13 September 2015.
  24. ^ Martin, Patrick (31 July 2015). "Palestinian child's death in terrorist attack stirs call to end violence". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  25. ^ a b c Levinson, Chaim (4 August 2015). "Police Seek Public's Help in Murder of Duma Toddler". Haaretz. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  26. ^ "Palestinian infant burned to death in West Bank arson attack; IDF blames 'Jewish terror'". Haaretz. July 31, 2015.
  27. ^ Hartman, Ben (25 August 2015). "Electrical blaze hits Dawabsha home in Duma". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  28. ^ Eliyahu, Shmuel (30 August 2015). "The way of terror is not our way". Ynet. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  29. ^ http://www.jta.org/2015/09/08/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/senior-idf-officer-duma-attack-was-definitely-jewish-terrorism
  30. ^ "Israel doesn't have enough evidence to arrest Duma arsonists, Ya'alon says". Jerusalem Post. 11 September 2015.
  31. ^ "Israel Has Identified Duma Arson Suspects but Won't File Charges Yet, Says Defense Minister". Ha'aretz. 10 September 2015.
  32. ^ "Defense minister denies Israel knows who killed the Dawabshas". timesofisrael.com. 2015-09-10. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  33. ^ "Ya'alon: we know who are the assailants at Duma". No. 994. Makor Rishon. September 11, 2015. p. 8.
  34. ^ Barak Ravid, Jack Khoury, Gili Cohen, Nir Hasson and Chaim Levinson (Jul 31, 2015). "Netanyahu Condemns Fatal West Bank Arson Attack, Calling It 'terrorism'". Haaretz. Retrieved 7 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ EU, U.S. State Department Condemn 'vicious' West Bank Arson Attack, Jul 31, Haaretz
  36. ^ Revital Hovel,'Palestinian Arson Victims Not Eligible Under Israeli Compensation Law ,' Haaretz 11 August 2015.
  37. ^ 'Ex-Shin Bet chief: Government does not want to deal with Jewish terror,' Ynet 8 August 2015.
  38. ^ 'Palestinian baby burned to death in settler attack,' Al Jazeera 31 July 2015.
  39. ^ "Palestinian fury as 'Jewish settler' arson attack kills child". BBC News. 2015-07-31.
  40. ^ Moore, Jack (31 July 2015). "Hamas Calls For 'Day of Rage' After Arson Attack Kills Palestinian Baby". Newsweek. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  41. ^ Frantzman, Seth (2 August 2015). "Security forces deployed to quell riot near Duma". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  42. ^ Khadeer, Kareem (3 August 2015). "Palestinian toddler's death sparks protests". CNN. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  43. ^ "Israeli forces shoot, kill Palestinian teen near Ramallah". Maan News Agency. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  44. ^ "Israelis protest hate crimes in wake of baby's death". Al Jazeera. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  45. ^ Mairav Zonszein,'Israel to detain Jewish terror suspects without trial ,' The Guardian 2 August 2015.
  46. ^ Vigilante Effort After a Child’s Death Underlines Stark Change in West Bank, Diaa Hadid, 3. Aug., 2015, NY times
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