Jerusalem – As riots between police and Palestinian youths broke out in the eastern part of the city, the Frenkel family whose son Naftali was buried with his friends on Tuesday, expressed shock and horror over an Arab boy’s murder in a statement released to the press: “We don’t know what happened last night in east Jerusalem, and the police are investigating. However, if, in fact, an Arab youth was killed for nationalistic reasons, then we’re talking about an awful and shocking deed.”
CNN said the victim was 17-year-old Muhammad Hussien Abu Khdier, and reported that he had been kidnapped by three unknown men. The boy’s body was found battered and burned beyond recognition in a forest near Giva’t Shao’l. “There is no difference between blood and blood,” according to the families’ statement, which was published in Ma’ariv. “Murder is murder, whatever the nationality and age. There is no justification, nor forgiving, and no atonement for any murder,” the statement said.
One former police commander speculated that perhaps it was an honor killing, claiming that he knew the family’s history and that things may not have been what they seemed. When the body was found, East Jerusalem erupted in riots, and not long after that the Frenkels issued their statement.
“Police forensics teams are examining the body in the forest to search for evidence of who may have done this,” Israel Police Spokesman Rosenfeld said.
The horrific, politically ill-timed abduction and murder of the three teen boys brought the often religiously and politically contentious nation together, and only incidentally pushed the envelope of Orthodox social convention. In addition to preventing officials from turning the boys’ funerals into a political circus, the families have stressed all along that they do not want people to take revenge. They also thanked everyone for their prayers, but Mrs. Frenkel also reminded the frum girls who were praying at the Kotel for the safe return of the boys earlier in the week that God is not our servant.
The Prime Minister, the President and President Abbas of the PA, as well as American leaders, decried the revenge murder, and called on all sides to “exercise restraint.” In a statement, Nir Barkat said: “This is a horrible and barbaric act which I strongly condemn. This is not our way and I am fully confident that our security forces will bring the perpetrators to justice.”
By JLBC Staff and Combined News Service
