Netanyahu asks Israeli police to act 'aggressively' with Palestinian protesters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli security services on Tuesday to “aggressively” crack down on Palestinian protesters in occupied Jerusalem.

After a special security meeting attended by Jerusalem’s mayor and government legal advisors, AFP news agency quoted Netanyahu’s office as saying that: “The prime minister instructed that forces be strengthened in areas of conflict and that they should act aggressively against rioters.”

Netanyahu also “stressed that the current situation must not be allowed to become the norm”.

Since July, when Jewish extremists killed a Palestinian teen and Israel launched a massive assault against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli police said that they have arrested more than 700 Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem, including at least 250 minors.

Palestinian and Israeli rights groups have said that the Israeli police and army are using “excessive force” when they confront and arrest the Palestinian protesters.

“Recently there have been stone-throwing incidents, public disturbances and violence,” the statement quoted Netanyahu as telling Tuesday’s meeting, AFP reported.

“We need to deal with this not only in light of the coming holidays but also in a fundamental way.”