Israel Condemns Arson Attack that Killed Arab Toddler
JERUSALEM, Israel -- The Israel Defense Forces are on high alert Friday morning after Hamas called for a "day of fury" to avenge an arson attack in an Arab village that killed a toddler and injured four family members, two critically. The call for "fury" also includes tensions on the Temple Mount.
The arson attack in the village of Duma, south of Nablus (biblical Shechem), comes on the heels of a stabbing attack late Thursday afternoon by a Haredi man at the gay pride march in Jerusalem.
The man wounded six people, two seriously, before police subdued him. Ironically, he'd been released from prison a few weeks ago after serving a 10-year sentence for a similar crime in 2005.
Israeli officials condemned the attacks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed shock over the "reprehensible and horrific" arson attack, calling it "an act of terrorism in every respect."
"The State of Israel takes a strong line against terrorism regardless of who the perpetrators are," he said. "On behalf of the citizens of Israel, I would like to share in the sorrow of the family of Ali Darawshe and wish a quick recovery to the family members who were injured."
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon also condemned the arson attack, saying "We will not allow terrorists to take the lives of Palestinians."
Education Minister Naftali Bennett called it "murder."
"This is not a hate crime, this is not a 'price tag' attack; this is murder," he wrote on his Facebook page, calling it something "the mind cannot fathom."
"Terror is terror is terror. Setting fire to the house in the village of Duma and infanticide is a shocking act of terrorism, that is completely unacceptable," Bennett said, calling on "security forces to act with determination to reach the murderers to be punished to the full extent of the law."
Earlier Netanyahu condemned the stabbing attack at the gay pride parade, calling it "a despicable hate crime."
"In Israel everyone, including the gay community, has the right to live in peace, and we will defend that right," he said.
Bennett, chairman of the Jewish Home Party and himself an observant Jew, said he loves all the people of Israel, including homosexuals. "I served with them and I fought alongside them and for them."
Judaism does not recognize same-sex marriage. In fact the Torah calls it an abomination (see ; 20:13).
Nonetheless, he reminded people, the last Knesset said no to formal recognition of homosexual couples but yes to rights.
The two attacks end a tough week in Israel. On Wednesday night, IDF forces demolished two buildings in the Jewish community of Beit El in Samaria and forcibly evacuated about 200 protesters from Sar-Nur in northern Samaria.
Following the demolitions, which angered many and pleased others, Netanyahu approved 300 new apartment units in Beit El.
Earlier Wednesday, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced the indictment of two members of an extremist Jewish group for the June 19 arson attack on the Church of the Multiplication in the Galilee.
Three other members of the group, including a 17 year old, were interrogated and face various administrative detentions.
