Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday phoned father of a Palestinian teen who had been kidnaped and killed by suspected Jewish settlers last week.
"I would like to express my outrage and that of the citizens of Israel over the reprehensible murder of your son," Netanyahu told Hussein Abu Khdeer, father of slain teen Mohamed Abu Khdeer, according to Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot.
"We denounce all brutal behavior; the murder of your son is abhorrent and cannot be countenanced by any human being," the Israeli premier added.
"We acted immediately to apprehend the murderers. We will bring them to trial and they will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law."
Abu Khdeer, 16, was abducted from outside his home in East Jerusalem on Wednesday. His charred body was found later the same day in a forest near Jerusalem.
Israeli police had arrested six suspects in connection with the murder. According to Israeli media, the suspects are a rabbi and his two sons in addition to three Jewish extremists.
Footage taken from a security camera near the home showed what appeared to be Jewish settlers abducting the boy.
In the footage, the kidnappers can be seen forcing him into their car before speeding off.
Preliminary autopsy report showed that he had been burnt alive by his kidnappers.
Tensions have already ridden the Palestinian territories since three Israeli settlers who went missing in June were found dead last week near the West Bank city of Hebron.
In the three weeks since the settlers' initial disappearance, Israel has rounded up hundreds of West Bank Palestinians, including lawmakers, former cabinet ministers and members of Gaza-based Hamas movement which Israel has accused of abducting and killing the trio.
No Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the settlers' disappearance or subsequent death
By Anees Barghouthy
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
