Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says
Passover eve terror attack which left Israeli man dead was a result of
ongoing Palestinian Authority incitement against Israel • U.S.: We
support Israel's efforts to bring those responsible for the attack to
justice.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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Photo credit: AP |
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday
that the Passover eve terror attack on Monday, which left 47-year-old
Israeli man Baruch Mizrahi, a chief superintendent in the Israel Police,
dead, was a result of ongoing incitement by the Palestinian Authority
against Israel.
"This reprehensible murder of a man who was
traveling with his family to a meal for the Festival of Freedom is the
result of the incitement for which the Palestinian Authority is
responsible," Netanyahu said. "The Palestinian Authority continues to
constantly broadcast -- in its official media -- programs that incite
against the existence of the State of Israel. Last night this incitement
was translated into the murder of a father who was traveling with his
family to celebrate the first night of Passover. The incitement of the
Palestinian Authority continues in that it has yet to see fit to condemn
this abominable and reprehensible act."
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said, "In the
hours since the terror attack on the eve of the holiday, in which a
police officer was killed and two additional Israeli citizens were
wounded, the Israel Defense Forces, the Border Police and the rest of
the security services are conducting a manhunt for the terrorist and
those who have sent him, if there are any. We will not rest until we
apprehend the person who planned and carried out this terror attack. We
will not tolerate attacks against Israeli citizens, and we will deal
with anyone involved in planning and carrying out such attacks with
unwavering determination. I send my condolences to the officer's family
and wish those that are injured a full recovery."
Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon (Likud)
said, "When terror rears it head, the last thing that should be up for
consideration is releasing 430 terrorists onto the streets," referring
to the potential release of more Palestinian prisoners as part of the
ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
MK Eli Yishai (Shas) said, "Whoever asks to release terrorists in hopes of peace should prepare for more attacks."
MK Nissan Slomiansky (Habayit Hayehudi) said that "a prisoner release only encourages potential terrorists."
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki
condemned the attack and said that the U.S. supports "Israel’s efforts
to bring those responsible for justice," adding that, "We urge all
parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that would raise
tensions."
While the Palestinian Authority had initially
refrained from condemning the attack, it eventually did so via one of
its officials on Wednesday morning. In a press briefing held in
Ramallah, Palestinian Minister for Religious Affairs Mahmoud al-Habash
said, "The Palestinian Authority condemns the murder of individuals on
both sides, including the murder of an Israeli policeman on Monday. It
is unfortunate and it shouldn’t have happened."
Al-Habash added that "This act should be
condemned and I want the family of the Israeli man to know that we
sympathize with their pain and send our condolences." He stressed that
"Israel too refrains from condemning the deaths of Palestinians in
clashes with settlers and security forces. During 2013 over 60
Palestinian were killed, hundreds of homes were razed and tens of
thousands of olive trees were destroyed by settlers or the military."
Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Strip Ismail
Haniyeh chose to laud the attack, saying,"I salute Hebron's heroes.
Those that carried out the attack breathed new life into the
resistance."
Meanwhile, leaders of the settler movement in
Judea and Samaria were infuriated by Monday's attack. Yesha Council
Chairman Avi Roeh said Tuesday that "the terrorists see the Israeli
hesitation and they use it as a tailwind to carry out murderous attacks.
Now, the Israeli government is holding negotiations just to get the
Palestinians to come to the table."
Roeh continued, "While we are deciding whether
to release dozens more prisoners without getting anything in return,
that weakness is being recognized: Terror organizations are rearing
their heads and trying to return us to the dark days when Israeli
citizens were afraid to leave their homes."
Yesha Council officials noted the fact that in
2012, when there were no peace negotiations, there also were no
terror-related murders. However, when talks were renewed in 2013 and
prisoners were released, four Israelis were murdered in terror attacks,
and that 2014 has seen terror attacks as well.
Hevron-Kiryat Arba Regional Council head
Malachi Levinger issued a statement following Monday's attack, saying,
"I call on the nation of Israel to come forward with a proper Zionist
response and to celebrate with us the joy of the holiday at various
sites in the old city, including at the Peace House. We will not allow
terrorists and murderers take us off the righteous path."
Davidi Perl, head of the Gush Etzion Regional
Council, said that "these reprehensible acts of terror are possible
because of national political weakness."
Har Hevron Regional Council head Yochai Damari said
Tuesday, "I call on the prime minister and defense minister to ensure
there is a political toll to be paid for the blood spilled and not to
stop at words and condemnations."
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