West Bank toddler killed in arson attack

Palestinian security officials said Friday that a house fire likely started by Israeli settlers in the West Bank had killed an 18-month-old baby. The house was destroyed and the other victims were taken to the hospital.

The fire was set at the entrance to a Palestinian village called Doma near Nablus. Hebrew graffiti was found at the scene, leading authorities to the conclusion that the blaze had been started by Jewish extremists.

In a statement from Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, he condemned the fire as an "act of terrorism."

"The fire and the murder of the Palestinian toddler is an act of terrorism," Yaalon said. "We will not allow terrorists to take the lives of Palestinians."

Clashes between Israeli settlers in the West Bank and Palestinians living in the occupied territory are not uncommon, although deaths are rare.

Attacks by Jewish extremists against Arabs are known as "price tag" violence, which refers to nationally-motivated hate crimes.

The issue of expanding Israeli settlement in the West Bank has been a major factor of unrest between Israelis and Palestinians for years.

mz/jil (AP, AFP, Reuters)