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Two Jewish Israelis indicted in Duma attack

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Two Jewish Israelis have been indicted for the murder of three members of a Palestinian family in a firebomb attack on their West Bank home. Israeli prosecutors filed the indictments in the July 31 arson attack in Lod District Court on Sunday, Jan. 3. The main suspect charged in the case was named as Amiram Ben-Uliel, 21, of Jerusalem, who was charged with three counts of murder. A minor, who cannot be named because of his age, also was charged as an accessory to murder. Other charges were filed against Yinon Reuveni, 20, for an arson attack in June on the Church of Loaves and Fishes in the Galilee; Reuveni also was charged with an arson attack on a building near Jerusalem’s Dormition Abbey more than a year ago, and two other minors also were charged in that attack.  Another minor was charged in a series of incidents of vandalism and arson.

According to the indictment, Ben-Uliel admitted to planning and carrying out the Duma attack and said it was in retaliation for the murder of Malachi Rosenfeld in June in a drive-by shooting by Palestinian attackers in the West Bank on a road near Duma. The police said in a statement that Ben-Uliel  returned to the scene of the July 31 attack and walked them through the events of the attack, in which he allegedly spray painted graffiti including “vengeance” and “long live the Messiah” on the house before throwing firebombs through the window. Three members of the Dawabshe family — a toddler and his parents — were killed in the attack. One child remains hospitalized and faces a difficult rehabilitation.

Ben-Uliel reportedly was detained by the Shin Bet security service on Dec. 1. His father Reuven is the rabbi of the West Bank settlement of Karmei Zur, where he grew up. Since the arson attack, Ben-Uliel and his wife moved to Jerusalem where they had a baby and became haredi Orthodox. Ben-Uliel’s family has said they believe that he is innocent and that he confessed to the crime due to torture during questioning. The Shin Bet has denied allegations of torture, though it has acknowledged that the interrogations included extraordinary actions, including “moderate physical pressure,” approved and overseen by the relevant government authorities. In its statement the police hailed the “extraordinary cooperation among the security agencies” during what it called a “complex investigation.” “The investigation was of national importance and came to an end with the filing of indictments,” the police said. “In the fight against terrorism there are no shortcuts.”

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