Palestinian boy's killers 'terrorists': Israeli minister
Preliminary autopsy report showed that the boy had been burnt alive by his kidnappers, believed to be Jewish settlers.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has branded the Israeli abductors and killers of a Palestinian teen last week as "terrorists."
"I feel embarrassed and horrified at the cruel murder of Mohamed Abu Khdeer," Ya’alon wrote on his Twitter account late Sunday.
"These degraded murderers don't represent the Jewish people or their values, and they must be treated as terrorists," said the minister.
"We must fight the perpetrators [of such acts], and those who send them, with an iron fist," he added.
Abu Khdeer, 16, was abducted from outside his home in East Jerusalem on Wednesday.
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.
Abu Khdeer's charred body was found later the same day in a forest near Jerusalem.
Preliminary autopsy report showed that he had been burnt alive by his kidnappers.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israel had arrested several suspects in connection with the murder.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
englishnews@aa.com.tr
