Custodial dad detained for brutally beating two children (Bethlehem, Israel)

Note that the article casually mentions (but not till paragraph 9) that these children were "left alone" with their abusive UNNAMED DAD after the divorce from their mother.

This is pretty darn imprecise. Did a court order the children into the custody of their father? Was the mother forced to flee for her life, or was she otherwise intimidated into leaving the children with their father? Has the mother "disappeared" entirely? In cases of men with histories of domestic violence, this often means she is in fact no longer alive--it's just that her body hasn't been found.

I'm glad to see that the very first comment on this article picks up on these very same questions. Reporters need to get on the ball, and establish the context in which these fathers are allowed to abuse their kids like this.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=368150

Community supports victims of child abuse
Published today (updated) 17/03/2011 13:22

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian Authority police have detained a man from a Bethlehem village suspected of brutally beating his two children, prompting an outpouring of support by the community.

According to a police report, the divorced father beat his 9-year-old daughter Sahar and her brother Ayyoub, 7, so badly that the elder daughter collapsed at school, prompting teachers to alert the police.

When Sahar fainted in class, she told her teacher that her father had beaten her and her brother with electricity cables when they asked for something to eat.

Sahar was taken to the Bethlehem police station and her father was detained.

Speaking with Ma'an about the case, Bethlehem's chief prosecutor Alaa Tamimi said the Ministry of Social affairs had been brought in, and said the children were protected under Palestinian law.

Police told Ma'an that during his interrogation, the father said he beat the children because he is unemployed and had no food to offer them.

Following the interrogation, a police prosecutor determined that the man should be detained for 15 days for further questioning and then handed over to the prosecution.

The children were sent to live with their grandfather, who told Ma'an that he had also been beaten by his son.

The elderly man said his son had been detained three times before, and had recently spent four months in prison for breaking his son Ayyoub's foot.

After their parent's divorce, the children were left alone with their abusive father in a home that consisted of one small, dark room with cracked walls, no heating, mats on the bare floor and exposed electricity sockets.

Social workers had been called in, and were doing their best to provide for the children, who remain with their grandfather. Neighbors say, however, that the elderly man has no means with which to support the two kids.

Calls were sent out to the community for assistance, and within the first days Palestinians from across the West Bank were pledging financial and in-kind support.

"I know one person who is willing to help this family," one Ramallah resident posted on their Facebook status following news of the children, "are you?"