Netanyahu Calls Abbas After Arson That Killed Toddler

Israel's prime minister made a rare call to the Palestinian Authority's chairman on Friday following the death of an 18-month-old Palestinian boy who was killed in a house fire suspected to have been set by Jewish extremists, NBC News reported.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Mahmoud Abbas to say "everyone in Israel was shocked by the reprehensible terrorism," according to a statement issued by his office.

The mother of the slain child was being treated for burns on 90 percent of her body, hospital officials told NBC News earlier. Israeli officials named the slain child as Ali Dawabsha and said his four-year-old brother was in intensive care. His father was also reported to have been injured.

Dan Shapiro, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, also highlighted Thursday's knife attack at a gay pride parade in Jerusalem.

"Two days, two terrible acts of violence and hate," he wrote on his Facebook page. "I join with so many Israeli leaders and citizens who have condemned the hateful stabbing attacks at the Jerusalem Pride March and the murderous terrorist arson in Duma."
 

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