Israel extends controversial detention powers

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon authorized the use of a controversial "administrative detention" procedure for suspects in a firebombing which has been condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu as "terrorism"by "criminals in our nation."

The firebombing on Friday morning killed 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha and left his parents and four-year-old brother critically wounded. A Jewish Star of David was spray-painted on a wall nearby with the words "revenge" and "long live the Messiah." There has been speculation that the attack was revenge for the demolition of two settlement buildings the previous week.

The fire in Douma near Nablus sparked clashes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Administrative detention has generally been reserved for Palestinian suspects. It allows for suspects to be held indefinitely without charge. The stated intention is for investigators to gather evidence while preventing further attacks.

Netanyahu said Sunday, "We are determined to vigorously fight manifestations of hate, fanaticism and terrorism from whatever side."

The cabinet called the arson "a terror attack in every respect." Security officials have been ordered "to take all steps necessary to bring those responsible to justice and prevent a recurrence of such attacks in the future."

Gay pride marcher dies

The response is also in relation to the death on Sunday of a young demonstrator on a Gay Pride march. Sixteen-year-old Shira Banki was stabbed in the back on Thursday by a suspect identified as an ultra-Orthodox Jew who had only just been released from jail for stabbing people at the same march ten years before.

Before his latest assault, the suspect had posted an Internet statement on what he called the "abomination" of a Gay Pride parade being held in the Holy City and the need to stop it.

Netanyahu said on Sunday he had "instructed security and law enforcement officials to use all legal means at their disposal" to deal with the suspects in both attacks. No arrests have been made in relation to the fire-bombing on Friday, and no group has claimed responsibility.

Israeli officials claim Jewish extremist groups operate in small groups that are hard for informants to infiltrate. They avoid electronic communication which could be monitored and refuse to speak when detained by authorities.

On Sunday morning, Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli police at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites.

jm/gsw (Reuters, AFP)