Israelis Indicted in Palestinian Arson Case

The charges follow criticism last month over a video of gun-waving Jewish extremists celebrating the murder the Dawabsha toddler.

The firebombing, carried out under cover of darkness while the family slept, sparked soul-searching among Israelis rattled by the horrific attack.

Around 140 Palestinians have been killed in more than three months of violence in the occupied territories, as Israeli forces continue to target the homes and properties of the Palestinians, accusing them of attempted attacks on Israeli troops and settlers.

The main suspect, Amiram Ben-Oliel, 21, was charged with killing three members of the Dawabsheh family in the West Bank village of Duma, while a 17-year old Jewish settler was charged with accessory to murder. A minor was charged as an adjunct.

The worldwide community, Israeli and Palestinian leaders condemned the attack as Israeli authorities vowed to crack down on Jewish extremism. Among the controversies associated with the case are the use of administrative detention against the suspects – a mechanism alleged by many to be an abuse of legal rights – and allegations by suspects that “excessive physical pressure” was used to extract confessions.

But his grandparents, whom AFP met at home next to their son’s torched house in Duma, said they did not believe in “unfair Israeli justice”.

Israeli prosecutors filed the indictments in Lod District Court on Sunday, when a gag order was lifted on some details of the July 31 arson attack case.

Israel says the violence is being fanned by a Palestinian campaign of incitement. Palestinians say their deep anger, which has been manifested in stabbing and shootings on the Israelis, is also rooted in years of failure to end the Israeli occupation.

The attack in Duma village and ensuing Israeli investigation laid bare fissures in Netanyahu’s coalition government, where one ultra-nationalist partner voiced misgivings about the handling of Jewish suspects.

Jewish extremists have for years vandalized or set fire to Palestinian property, as well as mosques, churches, the offices of dovish Israeli groups and even Israeli military bases.

Both Israelis and Palestinians described the attack as act of terrorism.

The extremists are part of the so-called “hilltop youth”, a leaderless group of young people who set up unauthorized outposts, usually clusters of trailers, on West Bank hilltops – land the Palestinians claim for their hoped-for state.

The Yesha council, an umbrella group of West Bank settlements, commended the indictment and said the suspects do not represent it.

He told the Cabinet that Israel is a state of law that will enforce the law against all perpetrators of violence and murder.