Netanyahu orders the enforcement of Israeli sovereignty over all of Jerusalem

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “that sovereignty be enforced in all parts of Jerusalem by positioning additional [occupation] forces throughout” the holy city, which both Palestinians and Israelis claim as their capital, Al-Quds newspaper reported.

Netanyahu made these remarks in a statement issued by his office after security discussions were held on Thursday afternoon in the context of the escalating clashes in various parts of Jerusalem between Palestinian youth and Israeli occupation forces. The latest clashes erupted after Israeli police in Jerusalem killed a young Palestinian man accused of running over a number of Israelis, resulting in the death of a child and the wounding of eight Israeli settlers.

“United Jerusalem was, and will always remain, the capital of Jerusalem. Every attempt to harm its people will be met with a stronger response. We will return peace and security to Jerusalem,” Netanyahu said in the statement.

He added that Israel would step up its intelligence and law enforcement efforts throughout the city.

The security consultations were held at the National Headquarters of the Israeli Police in Jerusalem and attended by Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Israeli Police Inspector-General Yohanan Danino, Israeli Security Agency head Yoram Cohen, Jerusalem District Police head Assistant-Chief Moshe Edri and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

“We support the Israel police and give it whatever reinforcements and capabilities it needs to carry out this mission. We have proven that with determination and patience we can achieve these goals in all parts of the State of Israel,” Al-Quds quoted Netanyahu as saying.

He also added, “Not only is Jerusalem under terrorist attack, but other capitals and cities around the world are as well,” referring to the unrelated shooting that took place this week in Ottawa, Canada.

“But the attacks in Jerusalem are supported by Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas], “who both extols the murderers and embraces the organisation that the terrorists belong to, Hamas. And against these actions by the Palestinian Authority Chairman, we find international weakness; they are not prepared to utter so much as a word of criticism against him. We have no such weakness. We will insist on our rights and on our obligation to defend our capital. We will do strongly – and we will win,” Netanyahu reportedly stated.