Israeli Defense Chief Walks Back Comments on Knowing Identity of Duma Attackers
Image by Getty Images
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon walked back comments he reportedly made saying that Israeli military authorities know who is responsible for the arson attack that killed a baby and his parents.
Security forces have a “general idea” of who perpetrated the attack on a home in the West Bank village of Duma, he told reporters hours after the remarks attributed to him were published in the Israeli daily Haaretz.
“We are unfortunately convinced that the attack in Duma was carried out by Jews,” he told reporters Thursday night, according to the Times of Israel.
He added: “It is one of the most extremist groups, whose goal was to set fire to the area and harm many lives; much more than the ‘price tag’ attacks we have come across.”
Haaretz reported earlier in the day that Yaalon told a closed meeting with some 20 young Likud party activists on Wednesday that Israeli military authorities know who is responsible for the attack, but they are not being indicted in order to protect the military’s intelligence sources.
Reham Dawabsheh, 27, died Sunday after suffering burns to some 90 percent of her body in the July 31 attack in the West Bank village of Duma. Her 18-month-old son, Ali, was killed in the attack and her husband, Saad, died more than a week later of his injuries. Another son, Ahmed, 4, was seriously burned but reportedly is recovering. He has not been told about the loss of his family.
Three known Jewish extremists were arrested and remain held in administrative detention in the wake of the attack, but no one has been charged in the incident.
A senior Israeli army officer said Tuesday in a briefing with reporters that there is no doubt that Jews firebombed the home.
“We know unequivocally that this is an act of Jewish terror,” the officer said. “All the rumor and speculation being spread on this issue lack any basis in reality.”
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
