Israel’s defense chief: Israel knows who is responsible for Duma firebombing

Marcy Oster

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli military authorities know who is responsible for the arson attack on a Palestinian home that left a baby and his parents dead, the country’s defense minister said.

The perpetrators are not being indicted in order to protect the military’s intelligence sources, Moshe Yaalon told a closed meeting on Wednesday, Haaretz reported.

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.”