In contrast to the massive show of Jewish unity and spiritual force that marked the disappearance and murder of Eyal Yifrah, Gil-Ad Sha’ar and Naftali Fraenkel, IDF and Israel Police units are on high alert for more Arab rioting ahead of the planned funeral of Mohammed Abu Khdeir this afternoon.
Tensions remain high in Jerusalem after two days of violence. Arab sources insist Abu Khdeir was murdered by Jews to avenge the deaths of Gilad, Naftali and Eyal, possibly even in order to bake matzah for next Passover. There is evidence that the teen’s death may have been the result of a clash between Palestinian clans in the Shuafat neighborhood and refugee camp, or possibly an honor killing following on the heels of a rumour that Abu Khdeir was gay.
Members of the Abu Khdeir family accused Israel of withholding the body until rioting died won – Muslim custom requires burial within 24 hours of death – but Israel Police Spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said coroners were still examining the body at the Abu Kabir Forensics Institute near Tel Aviv.
Rosenfeld added that the body would be released for burial after the first Friday prayer service for Ramadan, traditionally a time of Palestinian violence, ends.
At the same time, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an English-language spokesman for the IDF, said the army is concerned not only about rioting in the capital, but also that the unrest could spread to Judea and Samaria as well.