Palestinian youth killed in revenge attack
Print Edition
A Palestinian teenager was kidnapped and killed yesterday in an apparent act of revenge for the murder by militants of three Israeli youths, triggering violent clashes in east Jerusalem.
Palestinian leaders denounced the killing, holding Israel responsible and demanding the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu act to prevent revenge attacks.
“I demand the Israeli government punish the killers if it wants peace between the Palestinian and the Israeli peoples,” said Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
Netanyahu also condemned the “despicable murder” and ordered investigators to work “as quickly as possible” to track down the perpetrators, while urging both sides “not to take the law into their own hands.”
Eyewitnesses said 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khder was seen being forced into a car by three Israelis in east Jerusalem.
And police confirmed a body had been found in a forest in Givat Shaul in west Jerusalem, although they refused to link the two incidents.
However, DNA tests proved the body was that of the missing teenager, his father said.
“The body belongs to my son,” Hussein Abu Khder said, adding his identity had been confirmed through tests but the cause of death was not clear yet.
The attack is widely believed to have been carried out in revenge for the kidnap and killing of three Israeli teenagers by Palestinian militants, with police raising the alert to the second highest level across Israel.
Shortly after dawn, crowds of angry Palestinians began gathering outside the teenager’s home in Shuafat, with violent clashes erupting soon after and showing no sign of easing some eight hours later.
Clouds of black smoke rose into the sky as hundreds of masked Palestinians hurled stones at Israeli police in riot gear, who responded by firing rubber bullets, tear gas and sound bombs. The Red Crescent said at least 65 people had been hurt in the clashes, three by live bullets. At least 35 people were injured by rubber bullets.
As concerns about further attacks grew, Israel police raised the alert to the second highest level. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat denounced the murder as a “horrible and barbaric act” and called for all sides “to exercise restraint.”
Tensions have soared across the region since June 12 when three Israeli teenagers disappeared while hitchhiking in the West Bank. Their bodies were found on Monday, with Israel blaming Hamas and vowing to hit it hard.
Calls for revenge followed, with more than 200 Israelis rampaging through Jerusalem on Tuesday, dragging people out of cars and chanting “Death to Arabs,” witnesses said.
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