Israeli settler convicted in Palestinian arson killings

By Abdelraouf Arnaout and Qais Abu Samra

JERUSALEM (AA) – An Israeli court on Monday convicted a Jewish settler of murder in a 2015 arson in which a Palestinian baby and his parents were burned alive in the occupied West Bank.

The Central District Court in Lod city found settler Amiram Ben-Uliel guilty of killing members of the Dawabsheh family, the Israel Broadcasting Corporation said.

However, the court acquitted the settler from the charge of belonging to a terrorist organization.

The court will hold a final hearing before delivering its verdict on June 9.

In July 2015, Riham and Saad Dawabsheh and their 18-month baby were burned alive when settlers set on fire their home in the village of Duma in Nablus. Another child sustained severe burns in the attack.

At the time, the Israeli government considered the incident a "terrorist" attack; however, the Palestinian leadership and human rights organizations accused Israel of not being serious in pursuing the assailants.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Nasr Dawabsheh told Anadolu Agency, that the Israeli court's conviction of the settler was "not enough."

"The crime was not committed by one person," he said. "We demand all perpetrators be brought to justice and receive highest punishment."

He stressed that the family intends to continue to follow the case at Israeli and international courts.

"We do not trust the Israeli judiciary, but we are forced to exhaust all legal steps in Israeli courts, and then move to international tribunals to hold the perpetrators accountable," he added.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat