Kerry condemns terror attacks against Israelis

The recent violence between Palestinians and Israelis was triggered after Israel set up roadblocks in Palestinian neighborhoods of Israeli-occupied East al-Quds on August 26, to put restrictions on entries into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The second assailant was shot to death by police when he ran towards them refusing to drop his knife.

Before Nethanyahu spoke at the press conference, Israeli officials gave a presentation to reporters regarding how Palestinian leadership has been inciting the recent wave of violence in Jerusalem, which has left 8 Israelis and 31 Palestinians dead.

The unrest that has engulfed Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, the most serious in years, has claimed the lives of 32 Palestinians and seven Israelis.

But Israel swiftly termed Mr Abbas’s speech “incitement”, saying in a statement from the prime minister’s office that the Palestinian president “intentionally lied claiming that this 13-year-old boy, who stabbed two Israelis, is dead”.

Hasan Breijieh, coordinator of a local committee opposed to construction of Israeli settlements on confiscated Palestinian land, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that the Israeli authorities had presented two Palestinian families from Silwad village near Ramallah with demolition orders for their homes.

A total of 33 Palestinians, including alleged attackers, have been killed and hundreds wounded in an upsurge of violence that began at the start of the month.

The last 11 days have seen 22 Palestinian in stabbing attacks against Israelis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday rejected the Obama administration’s assertion that Israel is using “excessive” force in a few cases as it fights back against violence from Palestinians.

Of course all of this is taking place at a time when tensions in the region have escalated into violence. As we reported, Israel deployed troops to cities in an effort to quell the violence.

Islamist group Hamas has been vocal in supporting the resistance, and it called for “rallies of anger and confrontations” to be held in West Bank cities after Friday prayer, according to Reuters. “I am willing to meet him, he is not willing to meet me and you ask me if I’m ready to renew negotiations – ask him”.

Netanayahu called the allegations that the Israelis are trying to change the status quo on the Temple Mount, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, “false”.

The American State Department said the two discussed plans to meet during a phone call Friday as Kerry flew from Washington to Milan on an unrelated trip.