Seven Israelis arrested in West Bank raids to find Duma attack suspects

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon reportedly approved further arrests of Israelis accused of committing acts of terror against Palestinians.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: AUGUST 9, 2015 11:19
Jewish settlers (R) scuffle with Israeli police officers near buildings slated for demolition by order of Israel's high court in Beit El (photo credit: REUTERS)
Jewish settlers (R) scuffle with Israeli police officers near buildings slated for demolition by order of Israel's high court in Beit El
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Seven Israelis were arrested in Adei Ad in the West Bank, after joint raids by Israel Police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) carried out overnight Saturday and Sunday morning.
Police said the arrests were made by a unit handling nationalistic crime, as part of investigations into a terror attack on a house in Duma on July 31, which killed a Palestinian baby and his father.
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An attorney is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
The arrests come after Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon was expected to approve additional arrests of Israelis accused of committing acts of terror against Palestinians, according to Israel Radio.
Still, Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Saturday that the “extremist right-wing Israeli government” is fully responsible for the arson attack, claiming it is not doing anything to fight Jewish terrorism.
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The Palestinian Authority pledged to pursue Israel diplomatically and Hamas called for a violent response to the death of Sa’ad Dawabsha on Saturday, from burns he sustained in the terrorist attack on his home.
Sa’ad, 31, is the second victim of the attack, which also claimed the life of his son, 18-month-old Ali, a toddler who was burned alive in his crib when the house was torched before dawn, allegedly by Jewish terrorists.
Hundreds of mourners filled the roads of Duma on Saturday during Sa’ad’s funeral. Once the procession was over, Palestinians burned tires on the road leading into the village, prompting the army to close it temporarily, according to the IDF. Following the funeral, several dozen Palestinians threw rocks at IDF soldiers. The soldiers did not respond with violence.