Home of crucial witness in murder trial set ablaze
JERUSALEM — Israeli police said they do not believe an arson attack on a Palestinian home Sunday was carried out by Jewish attackers. The house that was set ablaze belonged to a key witness to an arson attack by Jewish perpetrators that killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents last year.
Palestinian officials say attackers broke the bedroom window of Ibrahim Dawabsheh’s home and set the house on fire. Dawabsheh and his wife escaped. He was unharmed but his wife suffered from light smoke inhalation.
Dawabsheh, a relative of last year’s victims, is a witness to the attack that killed them and is testifying in the trial of two Jewish extremists.
In July, suspected Jewish settlers hurled firebombs into a home, killing 18- month- old Ali Dawabsheh. His mother, Riham, and father, Saad, later died of their wounds. Ali’s 4- year- old brother Ahmad survived.
Ibrahim Dawabsheh told Israeli Channel 10 TV News, “The minute I saw the fire, I was reminded of Saad’s family, of course.”
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said an investigation is under way into the fire in the West Bank village of Duma.
The police and Shin Bet security service announced, “The evidence that was found at the scene of the crime does not have the characteristics of a targeted arson by Jewish perpetrators.” Samri and the statement did not offer further details on why police doubt the fire was the work of Jewish extremists or who they suspect the perpetrators might be.
Duma council head Abdel- Salaam Dawabsheh ruled out the possibility that a local resident carried out the arson. He said Palestinian detectives are investigating the fire as well.
The deadly July 31 firebombing was condemned across the Israeli political spectrum, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged “zero tolerance” in the fight to bring the assailants to justice.