Netanyahu urges restraint in Jerusalem: No one should take law into their own hands
PM holds special security consultations in wake of Glick attack, says Israel 'must be level-headed and act with determination and responsibility.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for restraint Thursday in the wake of the attempted assassination of Rabbi Yehuda Glick in Jerusalem the night before, saying that "no side should take the law into its own hands."
The prime minister was speaking at the start of special consultations in his Jerusalem office, in the wake of the attacks. Present were Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Shin Bet Director Yoram Cohen, Israel Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino, Jerusalem District Police Commander Moshe Edri and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.
"I have ordered significant reinforcements so that we can maintain both security in Jerusalem and the status quo in the holy places," Netanyahu said. "This struggle might be long, and here, like in other struggles, we must first of all, lower the flames. No side should take the law into its own hands. We must be level-headed and act with determination and responsibility, and so we shall."
Netanyahu came under heavy criticism from members of his own government on Wednesday night, who said that the prime minister was "losing Jerusalem".
Netanyahu also repeated his accusations that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been inciting to violence in the already tense capital.
"A few days ago, I said that we were facing a wave of incitement by radical Islamic elements and by Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen (Abbas), who said that Jews must be prevented from going up to the Temple Mount by any means possible," Netanyahu said.
He also rebuked the international community for failing to take a stand against Abbas' remarks, accusing world leaders of double standards.
"I still have not heard from the international community so much as one word of condemnation for these inflammatory remarks," he said. "The international community needs to stop its hypocrisy and take action against inciters, against those who try to change the status quo."
Rabbi Yehudi Glick, a fervent supporter of the return of Jewish prayers to the Temple Mount, was shot four times at an event on the issue in Jerusalem on Wednesday night. Witnesses said that the gunman checked Glick's identity in a "heavy Arab accent" before shooting him at point-blank range. The chief suspect in the attack, Muataz Hijazi, was killed by police special forces during a shootout on Thursday morning at a home in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Abu Tor.
"I would like to send my best wishes for a full and quick recovery to Yehuda Glick, who is now fighting for his life," Netanyahu said. "I would also like to commend the ISA (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police for quickly solving this act of terrorism."
