Netanyahu: Abbas 'teaches terror'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday accused Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas of “teaching terror”, Israeli website Ynetnews reported.

“Abu Mazen is not a partner to the effort against the incitement. He has proven how irresponsible he is – instead of calming tensions, he stokes them,” Netanyahu said during a Security Cabinet meeting.

Netanyahu continued saying: “Instead of telling the truth, he is spreading lies as if we are attempting to change the status of holy sites. Instead of educating his people on peace, he is teaching them terror.”

The Israeli PM said that he ordered the government to deal strictly with Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

“These steps include reinforcing forces across the country to increase the security of Israeli civilians, destruction of terrorists’ homes and harsh responses to rioters throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks,” he said.

Ynetnews said that one of the new measures taken by Netanyahu to deter Palestinian protesters will also seek to fine “the parents of children who throw rocks” and outlaw sources of incitement in Jerusalem.

Palestinians have been protesting against Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the appropriation of Palestinian lands and expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

Netanyahu described them as terrorists and said: “Terror has no borders. The terrorists do not want us in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, not in Gush Etzion and not anywhere else.”

He forwarded a message to Arabs living in Israel: ” I call on Israel’s Arab citizens – do not buy into this propaganda. You are citizens with equal rights and equal duties. It is the duty of every single citizen to operate within the law.”