Netanyahu Demands Palestinian Condemnation for Couple's Murder

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday called on the international community to condemn the Palestinian leadership's praise for the terrorists who murder Israeli civilians, reports the Jerusalem Post.

"Fanaticism, zealotry is there...When we hear incitement and praise for terrorists from supposed peace partners, we say, 'Cut it out'," said Netanyahu in a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry.

A Fatah affiliated cell claimed responsibility for opening fire on Eitam and Na'ama Henkin's car – an Israeli couple in their 30s – while they were driving home with four of their children. The children – ranging in age from four months to nine years old – witnessed the murder of their parents but were not injured.

"The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement Fatah, accepted responsibility for the Itamar operation (the murder of Eitam and Na'ama Henkin), carried out against settlers, leading to their deaths," posted Fatah Central Committee member Mahmoud Al-Aloul on his official Facebook page, reports Palestinian Media Watch.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas did not mention the attack, let alone condemn it, during an appearance Friday evening. Several Palestinian factions, including Hamas, praised the attack as heroic.

This attack comes amidst increased Palestinian violent incitement against Jews and growing hostilities in Jerusalem.

"The Al-Aqsa [Mosque] is ours... and they have no right to defile it with their filthy feet. We will not allow them to, and we will do everything in our power to protect Jerusalem... We bless every drop of blood that has been spilled for Jerusalem, which is clean and pure blood, blood spilled for Allah, Allah willing. Every martyr (Shahid) will reach Paradise, and everyone wounded will be rewarded by Allah," Palestinian Authority (PA) President Abbas said in a speech, segments of which were aired on official PA TV and posted on his website.

Netanyahu contrasted the silence from Palestinian officials to the Henkins' murder to a firebombing by Israeli extremists in Duma which killed a Palestinian toddler. Israeli officials of all stripes condemned the attack.

"Compare this to the silence of the Palestinian leadership now," Netanyahu said Friday. "I have not heard their condemnation."

Reader comments on this item

"Cut it out"

Submitted by Michael Fox, Oct 3, 2015 00:12

Is that the Israeli PM's response to the savage murder of of two Israeli civilians in front of their children? Cut it out???? This death by a thousands cuts has to stop. Netanyahu has taken a page out of the spineless American Presidents playbook. Obama is getting grilled for having no plan and wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of US foreign policy in the Middle East.

It takes courage to be a leader of nations. Unpopular decisions for the greater good of the survival of Israel must be undertaken. The die is cast. The enmity of the Palestinians and their blood thirsty proxies towards the Jews and Israel is irreconcilable.

As Assad went to his international supporters for the survival of Syria,, so must Israel. New highly protected borders must be drawn and populations moved..It will not be easy but there is really no alternative except for Iran's vision and that is an act in defiance of G-d and his promise to the Jewish people.

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