West Bank Bedouin tent burned down in suspected arson attack

Graffiti spray-painted near the tent included the words “administrative revenge,” which could refer to the recent administrative detention of three suspected Jewish extremists.

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JERUSALEM (JTA) — A tent in a West Bank Bedouin village was set on fire in a suspected arson attack.

The tent in the village of Kafr Malik, located north of Ramallah, was burned completely early Thursday morning, according to reports. It had been used for storage and unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Graffiti spray-painted on a rock near the burned-down tent included a Star of David and the words “administrative revenge,” which could refer to the recent administrative detention orders for three suspected Jewish extremists. Under administrative detention, prisoners can remain in custody for up to six months without a hearing or charges, renewable indefinitely. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners remain in administrative detention in Israeli prisons.

The suspected extremists were arrested after the July 31 arson attack on a West Bank Palestinian home that left a baby and his father dead. The West Bank village of Duma, where the attack occurred, is located about three miles from the Bedouin village where Thursday’s attack took place.

Later Thursday, three Jewish youths reportedly were arrested in the area in connection with the attack. The youths’ car also was seized and they were prohibited from meeting with an attorney.

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