Palestinian president hosts Israeli lawmakers

By Anees Barghouthy

JERUSALEM

 Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met members of Israel’s left-wing Meretz Party on Sunday in the aftermath of the killing of an 18-month-old boy in an arson attack by suspected settlers, local media reported.

Abbas told lawmakers from the party, which supports a two-state solution, that the killing of Ali Saeed Dawabsheh, who was burned to death in his home on Friday, was a “crime against humanity and a war crime”.

Jewish extremists are believed to be responsible for the attack in the village of Duma in the occupied West Bank that also left Dawabsheh's parents and brother seriously injured.

According to the Jersusalem Post, Abbas added: "We cannot say this was a crime committed by a crazy man. We need to view this as a terrorist attack. Condemnations and expressions of sorrow are not enough. There need to be genuine steps taken against terrorists who burn families."

Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Gal-On expressed "shock" over the attack. “We need firm action against the Jewish terror, an end to our occupation of millions of people and to re-launch the political process,” she added.

Abbas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of refusing to take part in negotiations for peace. “His best weapon is the intifada,” he said, referring to the Palestinian revolt against Israel’s occupation.