Family reactions, riots and funeral Kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir

mourning tent of muhamed abu khdeir

prime minister netanyahu sent condolences victim s family, saying: there no place such murders in our society. condolences rejected family, said, [w]e refuse accept condolences of agrees on murder of our people in jerusalem, west bank, , gaza . despite concern family members visits israeli jews serve public relations stunt israel, family agreed receive visits them @ mourning tent, largely conform hospitality diktats in arab culture. abu khdeir warned, however, family not allow right-wing israelis in.

the family turned away visit israeli president shimon peres. public security minister yitzhak aharonovitch announced going pay visit @ abu khdeir family home, visit reportedly canceled due scheduling constraints. israel s ashkenazi chief rabbi, david lau, had planned visit canceled, whether on security grounds or because family refused see him unclear. among israeli officials did visit mourning tent, mk shelly yachimovich (labor), mk michal rozin, , environmental protection minister amir peretz. peretz became target of abuse on facebook page right-wing israelis opposed visit; made death threats against him , family, , expressed support khdeir s murderers. abu khdeir family spoke justice minister tzipi livni. part of initiative led israeli ngo combating hate crime, tag meir organization organized chartered buses tel aviv , jerusalem large israeli contingent wishing pay respects abu khdeir family, welcomed them in mourners tent. anti-racist israeli activists jerusalem came express condolences.

abu khdeir s murder sparked off fierce riots several days, threatening spilling on broader unrest. in shu fat area , east jerusalem, half-mile section of major thoroughfare , jerusalem light rail passing through severely damaged. significant faction in wave of riots suspicion israeli extremists behind revenge killing of abu-khdeir. in different area, near west bank israeli settlement of ma ale adumim stones , molotov cocktails thrown , rolled burning tires @ security forces, according israeli police. small riot took place in israeli-arab town of tayibe locals burned tires @ town entrance. police arrested 3 locals allegedly throwing stones @ passing vehicle on highway 444. in aftermath of khdeir s murder, israel arrested 760 palestinian citizens of jerusalem, 260 of them children.

khdeir s funeral coincided onset of first friday prayers of muslim holy month of ramadan. israeli police blocked roads leading east jerusalem s palestinian neighborhood westwards, , placed limits on muslim worshippers @ al-aqsa mosque, year before, on occasion of ramadan, 80,000 had worshipped. 8,000 palestinians managed attend mosque day , numerous riots broke out, east jerusalem youths throwing stones , makeshift molotov cocktails @ israeli police. 100 arab israelis mounted protest @ nazareth , 2 arrested police on sunday, , further 15 arrested made in tamra during clashes police. palestinian flags had been raised in palestinian neighborhoods rioting occurred removed teams jerusalem municipal council sent clean areas.

in wake of 2014 jerusalem synagogue massacre in mid-november 2014 speculation circulated in israeli media attack might have been motivated desire avenge murder of abu khdeir. shin bet chief yoram cohen gave support view, saying that, along disputed status of al aqsa mosque, murder of abu khdeir main factor feeding ongoing unrest in jerusalem. shortly after murder, number of media divulged fact ben-david s father rabbi heads kollel in har nof.

in july 2016, abu khdeir family petitioned israeli high court of justice homes of murderers demolished, done palestinians convicted of terrorism. in july 2017 israeli high court declined petition on basis believed house demolitions ineffective due time elapsed since murder while stating unlike government s position, home demolition policy valid both jewish , palestinian attackers.