Investigation into Jewish extremist attack stalls

The probe into the murder of three members of the Dawabshe family in the Palestinian village of Douma four months ago is failing to deliver indictments against the suspects currently held for the arson attack.

Shin Bet investigators were allowed by the government to use "special measures" in the interrogations - what is being described by critics as torture - but the suspects have yet to make any confessions. The names of the four, one of whom is a minor, are still subject to a gag-order.

One of the reasons for the excessive measures being used in the interrogations is the fact that, while the Shin Bet is convinced the suspects were involved in some way, the evidence accumulated so far is either inadmissible in court or could compromise other investigations if presented.

All the suspects are known to have taken part in violent attacks and are affiliated with the "Hilltop Youth", a group of young people who want to bring down the secular Israeli state and replace it with a "halachic" one.