Israel doesn't have enough evidence to arrest Duma arsonists, Ya'alon says

Defense minister's office releases statement to the press, says state 'quite certain' that the arsonists are extremist Jews.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 19:19
A girl holds an Israeli flag on a hilltop near the Maaleh Adumim settlement (photo credit: REUTERS)
A girl holds an Israeli flag on a hilltop near the Maaleh Adumim settlement
(photo credit: REUTERS)
While Israeli authorities are almost certain that the arsonists who set fire to a home in the Palestinian village of Duma last month are Jewish terrorists, not enough evidence has been gathered to arrest them, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said on Friday evening.
Ya'alon's office released a communique to the press seeking to clarify the government's position and update the public on the latest developments in the investigation, many of whose details are under gag order due to the sensitive nature of the case.
"There is a high probability that those responsible for the attack in Duma are part of a very extreme group of Jews that doesn't recognize the authority of the state and wishes instead to make trouble and do harm to people," the defense minister's office said.
The July 31 arson claimed the lives of Riham Dawabsha, 26, who died Sunday night after being severely burned; her husband, Sa’ad; and their 18-month-old son, Ali.
Ya'alon said that thus far a number of individuals have been held in administrative detention while "dozens" of restraining orders have been issued against members of the Jewish terrorist underground "in order to prevent further attacks."
"Nonetheless, we still do not have sufficient evidence to allow us to apprehend the suspects in the [Duma] attack," the defense minister's office said. "But we are continuing to investigate, using all of the tools at the disposal of the defense establishment."