Palestinian teens arrested in rock attack that injured tot

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Five Palestinian teens were arrested in connection with an attack on a car in a Jerusalem neighborhood that seriously injured a Jewish toddler.

Four of the five suspects, aged 14 to 17, said during questioning that they were throwing rocks at Israeli cars out of their “hatred of Jews,” according to reports. They had met that evening with several friends with the intention of throwing rocks at Israeli cars, Ynet reported.

They have been ordered held over until trial.

All the suspects live in the eastern Jerusalem village of Sur Baher, which is adjacent to Jerusalem’s Armon Hanatziv neighborhood, the site of the incident.

The 2-year-old victim, identified as Avigayil, was hit in the head on the evening of Nov. 28 while traveling through Armon Hanatziv, which separates the West Bank from pre-1967 Israel. The child, who reportedly lost consciousness after the blow, was released Monday from Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital.

Four other Sur Baher residents were arrested hours after the attack, questioned and released.