Stabbings and firebomb attack bring Jewish extremism into spotlight

A teenager stabbed at a Gay Pride march died of her injuries on Sunday as the attack and a firebombing that killed a Palestinian child put pressure on Israel to crack down on Jewish extremists.

Shira Banki, 16, was among six people stabbed at the Jerusalem march on Thursday by a suspect identified as an ultra-Orthodox Jew released from prison only weeks earlier for a similar attack.

The five other victims suffered light injuries.

On Friday morning, hours after the march, assailants suspected of being Jewish settlers firebombed a Palestinian family's home in the West Bank, killing an 18-month-old toddler.

The attacks have put a spotlight on Jewish extremists, and the firebombing further inflamed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, with clashes breaking out in various cities.

A Palestinian 14-year-old, Laith al-Khaldi, died on Saturday after being shot in the chest by Israeli troops on Friday during a protest in Ramallah.

On Sunday morning, Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli police at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites, though calm was later restored.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned both attacks and called the firebombing "terrorism" - a word usually used by Israelis to refer to violence by Palestinians. On Sunday, he spoke of "zero tolerance" for such acts.

But many have accused his government of failing to address the problem of Jewish extremism and of going dangerously far in its support for right-wing settler groups.

"Those who incite against Israel's Arab citizens should not be surprised when churches and mosques are set on fire, and when finally a baby is burned in the middle of the night," ex-president Shimon Peres told an anti-violence rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday night.

His comments were seen as at least partly directed at Netanyahu, who on election day in March caused outrage when he warned that Arabs were being mobilised "in droves" to the ballot boxes.

While Netanyahu and others have sought to avoid further escalation since the arson attack, no arrests have been announced.

The firebombing which killed 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha also left his parents and four-year-old brother critically wounded.

The family's small brick and cement home in the village of Duma was gutted by fire, while a Jewish Star of David was spray-painted on a wall along with the words "revenge" and "long live the Messiah".

Some have speculated that the attack was revenge for the demolition of two buildings in a settlement last week.

Suspect released from prison 6 weeks ago

Banki's family said Shira had been murdered because "she came to support the rights of her friends and any person to live as they wish".

"For no reason and due to evil, stupidity and negligence, the life of our wonderful flower was cut off," they said in a statement.

Hundreds of mourners, including classmates, teachers, members of the gay community and supporters, held a vigil for Banki at Zion Square near the spot where she was stabbed.

They lit candles while music she loved was played through speakers and pictures of her were projected on a large screen, an AFP photographer said.

The suspect of the attack, Yishai Shlissel, had stabbed and wounded three people at the 2005 Gay Pride march in Jerusalem. He served 10 years in prison and was released just three weeks ago.

Before the latest assault he posted a letter on the Internet speaking of the "abomination" of a Gay Pride parade being held in the Holy City and the need to stop it.

Police formed a committee following harsh criticism over how Shlissel -- who has told the court he did not accept its authority -- was allowed near the march so soon after his release from jail.

'Ideological crimes'

On Sunday, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon authorised the use of a controversial detention procedure - generally reserved for Palestinians - for suspects in the firebombing.

The procedure, known as administrative detention, allows suspects to be held indefinitely without charge, theoretically to allow investigators to gather evidence while preventing further attacks.

Israel has been accused of abusing the procedure to keep militants behind bars without trial.

According to Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, some 85 percent of cases involving "ideological crimes" are closed due to investigative failures with no charges filed.

Netanyahu said Sunday he had "instructed security and law enforcement officials to use all legal means at their disposal" to deal with the suspects in both attacks.

"We are determined to vigorously fight manifestations of hate, fanaticism and terrorism from whatever side," he said