Netanyahu: Israel condemns murders of Palestinians, who celebrate killing of Jews

Marcy Oster

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel condemns the murders of Palestinians, who celebrate the killing of Israelis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“This is what distinguishes us from our neighbors. We deplore and condemn these murderers. We will pursue them to the end. They name public squares after the murderers of children. This distinction cannot be blurred or covered up,” Netanyahu said Sunday morning at the weekly Cabinet meeting.

“It is important to say this even as we utter our condemnations and unite against the criminals among our people,” he said two days after a firebomb attack on a home in a West Bank Palestinian village killed a baby and left the rest of his family fighting for their lives.

The statement also came the morning after rallies in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv against the attack, as well as a stabbing attack by a haredi Orthodox man on marchers in Jerusalem’s Gay Pride parade.

Also on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon announced that he has given the go ahead to security officials to hold Jewish suspects in Friday’s firebomb attack under administrative detention, without charges or trial.  Administrative detention can be renewed every six months indefinitely.  Thousands of Palestinians currently are being held in administrative detention in Israeli jails.

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