US denounces terrorist attack that kills Palestinian toddler

The United States on Friday condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the vicious terrorist attack in a Palestinian village that killed an 18 month-old baby.

The arson attack on a family's home in the northern West Bank overnight also wounded at least three family members.

"We convey our profound condolences to the Dawabsheh family and extend our prayers for a full recovery to those injured," U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

Calling the attack an "act of terrorism in every respect," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered the security forces to use all means at their disposal to swiftly apprehend the murderers and bring them to justice.

Toner said the U.S. welcomes Netanyahu's order and urges all sides to maintain calm and avoid escalating tensions in the wake of this tragic incident.

Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Israel is responsible for the incident.

"Such a crime would not have occurred if the Israeli government did not insist on pursuing settlements and protecting settlers," he said in a statement on WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency.