Palestinians arrested in Christmas tree arson in West Bank

Footage has emerged appearing to show guests at a wedding in Jerusalem celebrating the death of a Palestinian toddler.

The boy and his parents died when their home was set ablaze in the village of Duma.

Israeli officials called the attack an act of terrorism and blamed Jewish extremists.

The toddler’s grandfather, Mohammad Hamoud, learned about the video… and was at a loss for words.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “shocking pictures”, saying in a statement that the video underscored the need to curb Jewish extremism.

A third Israeli was also killed by live fire from Israeli border guards who opened fire on the attackers. Lawyers have alleged torture of suspects by the domestic security agency, Shin Bet. Another Palestinian was killed during clashes with security forces in the Qalandiya refugee camp near East Jerusalem. At least 126 Palestinians have died by Israeli fire, including 86 said by Israel to be attackers and the rest killed in clashes with Israeli security forces.

Israeli forces Thursday shot dead an unidentified Palestinian man near the illegal settlement of Adam, located on the land of Jaba town, northwest of Jerusalem.

On Tuesday, Palestinians gathered in Ramallah to honor Samir Kuntar, a member of the Palestine Liberation Front who infamously murdered an Israeli father in front of his four-year-old daughter, then smashed her head in against a rock.

Joining Netanyahu in condemning the behaviour depicted were a number of senior political and religious figures.

Palestinians have often highlighted the lack of progress in the case as one of the causes of a wave of knife, gun and car-ramming attacks targeting Israelis that began on October 1.

The video filmed at a wedding that occurred three weeks ago, according to Israeli news media reports, shows a room full of Jewish extremists jumping, dancing wearing white skullcaps.

Palestinians have killed 20 Israelis and a United States citizen since October. “This is a rejection and repudiation of the values of the Jewish people, of the Torah of Israel and the uniqueness of the Jewish people”, said ultra-Orthodox Chief Rabbi David Lau. Palestinians say it stems from frustration at almost five decades of Israeli military rule.

Several Israeli leaders have strongly denounced the video, the same source reported.

“The Judaism of those who dance on the blood of babies is not my Judaism”, Tzipi Livni, Chair of Foreign Affairs and Defense Subcommittee on International Law, said.

Still, Mimran said the drawn-out investigation could mar Israel’s image not only in the eyes of Palestinians but also internationally.