Israeli police say 6 men have been arrested on suspicion of killing the Arab teenager, Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was abducted last week for ‘nationalistic reasons’. They are not “Settlers” nor are they “Haredim” (ultra-Orthodox) as Palestinians hoped they would be.

By Daniel Estrin

Jerusalem – Israeli media speculated that the arrested men were already well known to the police and were linked to hooligans who support Beitar Jerusalem football club. Some Beitar fans are renowned for their hatred of Palestinians and have forced the club to reject the signing of Muslim players.

CCTV footage of two of the six Israeli men arrested on suspicion of murdering Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir, on the night of his abduction in Jerusalem last week

Last year, Evyatar Yosef, 21, a member of La Familia, the team’s hardcore fan club known for its racist chants and extreme right-wing views, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for setting light to the club’s offices in protest at Beitar signing two Muslim players from Chechnya. The contracts of Zaur Sadayev and Gabriel Kadiev’s were not extended at the end of last season.

The Jerusalem District Court also handed a 10-month suspended sentence to Matan Navon, 23, another fan involved in the arson.

Protests spread over the weekend from Jerusalem to Arab towns in northern Israel, with hundreds of people throwing rocks and fire bombs at officers who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

Police said that 22 Israeli Arabs were arrested in clashes on Saturday.

Israeli Arabs, unlike Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, hold citizenship rights. But they often face discrimination and many identify with the Palestinians.

Clashes had mostly subsided by Sunday, but the situation remained tense. Police said a Jewish woman was attacked and lightly wounded yesterday by a group of Palestinians in Jerusalem’s Old City. Her husband fired his weapon and the attackers fled. Police were searching  for them.

Israeli police filmed beating up Tariq Abu Khdeir, the 15-year-old cousin of Mohammed Abu Khdeir Israeli police filmed beating up Tariq Abu Khdeir, the 15-year-old cousin of Mohammed Abu Khdeir
Also yesterday, the cousin of Abu Khdeir was released from jail and placed under house arrest. Tariq Abu Khdeir, a 15-year-old American of Palestinian descent was filmed as he was beaten up by Israeli police. He was crying as he returned to his family and appeared badly bruised, with both eyes and his mouth swollen.

“I feel better, I am excited to be back home,” he said.

The US State Department said it was “profoundly troubled” by reports of his beating and demanded an investigation, which Israel’s Justice Ministry quickly launched.

View original Independent publication at:  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mohammed-abu-khdeir-murder-mother-speaks-out-after-six-israeli-men-arrested-for-nationalistic-killing-9588080.html to read the entire publication.