JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Police found the body of 17-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khdeir early on Wednesday, July 2, in what appears to be revenge kidnapping and murder carried out by right-wing Israeli extremists, according to media reports.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ office issued a statement, saying: “Israel bears full responsibility for this incident. The Israeli police and security forces must bring those responsible to justice. The Palestinian leadership will continue its discussions following this escalation, including joining international organizations.”
The body of Mohammed was discovered an hour after police were notified that a Palestinian teenager had been forced into a car in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of Jerusalem. “We are concentrating on two things,” Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said, “whether the two incidents are related, and we’re looking into whether this is a crime or nationalistic.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a speedy investigation to find “who is behind this despicable murder and the background to this act,” according to a statement from his office. He urged “all sides not to take the law into their own hands. Israel is a country of law and everyone is ordered to act according to the law.”
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said: “This is a horrible and barbaric act which I strongly condemn,” “This is not our way and I am fully confident that our security forces will bring the perpetrators to justice. I call on everyone to exercise restraint.” Other Israeli leaders also condemned the murder.
Jerusalem police received a report earlier in the night that that a man had been forced onto a vehicle near the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina. A missing persons report was also filed. The link between the incidents has not yet been corroborated but the father of the missing child was taken to identify the body.
Hundreds assembled by the home of the missing Palestinian teenager. The family of the boy is vehemently denying rumors that he was kidnapped by Palestinians due to a feud between families.
Palestinian claims that the man was killed by Israelis are uncorroborated as of yet. However, there were rallies on Tuesday calling for revenge for the murder of the three Israeli teenagers who were found dead on Monday.
Five Palestinians were attacked, and two of them needed medical treatment, ‘Haaretz’ reports, adding that the Israeli extremists were engaged in violent confrontations with police in the capital’s center for several hours. Fifty people suspected of involvement in the incidents were arrested.
The parents of the murdered Israeli teenager Naphtali Fraenkel also issued a statement: “We do not know the exactly what happened last night in eastern Jerusalem, and the police are investigating. But if it is true a boy was killed for nationalistic reasons, we are talking about a troubling and horrifying act. There is no differentiating between blood and blood, murder is murder, whatever the nationality or age. There’s no justification, no forgiveness, and no redemption for any murder.”
In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry issued the following statement: “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the despicable and senseless abduction and murder of Muhammad Hussein Abu Khdeir. It is sickening to think of an innocent 17 year old boy snatched off the streets and his life stolen from him and his family. There are no words to convey adequately our condolences to the Palestinian people. The authorities are investigating this tragedy, a number of Israeli and Palestinian officials have condemned it, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has been emphatic in calling for all sides ‘not to take the law into their own hands.’
“Those who undertake acts of vengeance only destabilize an already explosive and emotional situation. We look to both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take all necessary steps to prevent acts of violence and bring their perpetrators to justice. The world has too often learned the hard way that violence only leads to more violence and at this tense and dangerous moment, all parties must do everything in their power to protect the innocent and act with reasonableness and restraint, not recrimination and retribution.”
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs also denouncd the murder: “We condemn his murder, express our deep condolences to his family, and join with Israeli officials from Jerusalem’s mayor to the prime minister who have called for a swift and thorough investigation and that his killer or killers be brought to justice. We also vigorously condemn calls for revenge in the wake of the horrific murder of three Israeli teenagers.”
“This heart-wrenching violence against children must come to an end,” said JCPA President Rabbi Steve Gutow. “The circumstances of his death remain uncertain, but it appears that Mohammed was not a party to nor instigator of the tragic events of recent days and weeks. But he now has paid the ultimate price regardless. It saddens me greatly that, in just a few days, yet another child has had his future taken away, and yet another family sent into mourning. With heavy hearts, we mourn for Mohammed along with his family.”
“Already, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Barkat have called upon authorities to quickly apprehend the killer or killers. We implore both Israelis and Palestinians to resist the temptation to take justice into their own hands. Revenge is not justice. Tragedy is never an excuse for lawlessness. More than ever, humanity demands that the violence end before more children are lost and more families devastated,” said JCPA Chair Susan W. Turnbull.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress