#Israel arrests Jewish activist for ‘nationalist crimes’

The Palestinians toddler was burned to death a day after an anti-gay ultra-Orthodox man stabbed a 16-year-old Jewish girl during a rampage against marchers at Jerusalem’s gay pride parade. “Of course, what is better than the No. 1 most-wanted target?” Members of the group have been behind a series of vandalism attacks against Palestinian homes, agriculture and livestock, as well as mosques, churches and even Israeli schools and military bases. Jewish assailants have traditionally drawn their inspiration from a small group of zealous settler rabbis.

Envoy to the United Nations Human Rights, Ibrahim Khraishi, said the file prepared on the latest settlers’ attack against a family in Nablus, which claimed the life of a toddler and critically injured his entire family, would be submitted to officials of the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner, and the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

It’s not entirely clear.

The agency would not say if he is also suspected in the July 31 arson attack, but it has accused Ettinger of heading an extremist movement seeking to bring about religious “redemption” through attacks on Christian sites and Palestinian homes.

A month earlier than the assault on the church, Ettinger referred to as on his weblog for extra assaults on Christian spiritual websites. Through a blog peppered with biblical references, Ettinger rails against Christians and other “idol worshippers” that undermine Israel’s Jewish nature.

“There is no terror organization, but there are many, many Jews, many more than people think, whose value system is completely different than that of the Israeli Supreme Court or the Shin Bet”, Ettinger wrote. “The State of Israel takes a strong line against terrorism regardless of who the perpetrators are”.

“When the Israeli government encourages settlements everywhere, they’re also encouraging these thugs to carry out these attacks”.

Across the board, there has been an outpouring of condemnation and grief.

Toner said the U.S. welcomes Netanyahu’s order and urges all sides to maintain calm and avoid escalating tensions in the wake of this tragic incident.

Sporadic clashes continued in the West Bank on Sunday, with many raging Palestinians accusing president Mahmoud Abbas’s security forces of failing to provide protection in the face of ongoing settler attacks.

Every motion that has become the UN Security Council that sanctions Israel for one act of brutality or another, criticises an Israeli plan to build colonies in occupied East Jerusalem, or condemns Israel for waging three brutal air and ground wars against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the past seven years has amounted to nothing. Why?

“This is a suspected attack with nationalist motives”, Samri said.