AMP condemns burning death of Ali Dawabsha and calls on US to hold Israel accountable

(WASHINGTON DC 07/31/2014) – Today, extremist Jewish settlers firebombed two Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Duma, setting them ablaze and burning to death 18-month Ali Saad Dawabsha. Four others were injured. The attackers spray-painted “Revenge” next to the Star of David in the apparent ‘price tag’ attack, terrorist actions aimed mainly at Palestinians to ‘exact a price’ for actions against the settlement movement. 

The American Muslims for Palestine, a national education and advocacy organization, roundly denounces this calculated act of violence perpetrated by Zionist Jews living illegally on Palestinian land.  AMP’s sincerely condolences and prayers go out to the families affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the family of infant Ali. 

AMP also is concerned about the lack of response from the White House and State Department, which so far have been silent on the incident. In November 2014, President Barack Obama “strongly condemned” the killing of Jewish worshipers in a synagogue near Jerusalem, saying in a statement, “There can be no justification for attacks against innocent civilians.”

It is an undeniable fact that all people deserve to live in peace and security and violent actions against a civilian population are reprehensible. But AMP asserts that Palestinian lives matter and calls upon President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to condemn this horrible crime and demand Israel apprehend the attackers and hold them accountable. 

The European Union has condemned the attack, saying in a statement: “The cold-blooded killing of Palestinian toddler Ali Daobasa [sic], presumably by extremist settlers, is a tragic reminder of the dramatic situation in the region that highlights the urgent need for a political solution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

If the United States hopes to be taken seriously as a broker for Middle East peace, it must prove that we value Palestinian lives as we do Israeli. 

The price tag attacks are part of the ongoing effort to displace Palestinians from their homes and villages. Mosques, churches, homes, orchards and fields are routinely attacked, burned and pillaged. Between 2006 and 2013, settler attacks against Palestinians have increased fourfold, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Since 2004, there are have been more than 11,000 price tag attacks, though a large number go unreported, according to published reports. Most of these crimes go unpunished. Israeli law NGO Yesh Din said that of the thousands of attacks between 2004 and 2011, indictments were handed down in just 7.4 percent of cases, and the vast majority of cases are closed without charges. 

AMP calls upon President Obama and Secretary Kerry to send a strong message to Israel that settlements are illegal under international and US policies and settler violence against Palestinians will not be tolerated.