Vengeful settlers kill Palestinian baby
The killing of three Palestinians, including a baby, apparently by Jewish settlers seeking revenge for Palestinian attacks, today sparked condemnation from all sides.
The attack yesterday on the Palestinian West Bank came hours after foreign ministers of the leading industrialised nations issued a joint call for observers to be sent to the region in an effort to end nearly 10 months of violence.
Israel radio reported that a shadowy extremist West Bank settler cell called the Road Safety Group claimed responsibility for the killing. The cell is linked to the outlawed Kach movement, which advocates expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank. Its members have been charged with many acts of violence.
It is the most serious attack by Jewish civilians against Palestinians since the fighting started last September. Settlers, frequent targets of Palestinian gunmen on West Bank roads, have been retaliating by destroying Palestinian property and burning fields.
The shooting took place late at night near the village of Idna, west of Hebron. Akram Etnizi, a Palestinian eyewitness, said he was in a nearby car and watched as "one settler stepped up to the car and started shooting, and then drove away".
Israel television reported that the car with the attackers ran an army roadblock and escaped into Israel.
The three dead were from the same family. They were identified as Mohammed Salameh Etnizi, 22, Mohammed Hilmy Etnizi, 20, and three-month-old Wael Etnizi, from Idna.
Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s office issued a statement "condemning all forms of terror" and pledging to "do everything possible to apprehend those responsible".
