Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking during the opening session of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, Oct. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to implement new measures to bring quiet to Israeli cities amid a wave of terror attacks.
“Israel will come to settle accounts with the murderers and those who want to kill, and anyone who helps them. Not only won’t they have any rights, but we will extract the full price from them,” Netanyahu said Tuesday afternoon during an address in Knesset marking the 14th anniversary of the assassination of government minister Rehavam Zeevi. He briefly left an emergency Security Cabinet meeting at which the measures were being discussed to speak to the Knesset.
Israeli media reported Tuesday evening that the government will send Israeli soldiers to support police forces in cities that have been hit with terror attacks.
During the day, three Israelis were killed and more than 20 injured in terror attacks in Jerusalem and the central Israeli city of Raanana. Two Palestinian assailants also were killed.
Netanyahu in his Knesset address called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to “Stop lying, stop inciting. A true leader must demonstrate responsibility.”
“Do not turn murderers into heroes,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also addressed Arab citizens of Israel.
“Do not be misled by agitators who want to ignite the fire in the country. We live together. We believe in coexistence. It is very easy to unravel the threads that bind us to one another. Do not be tempted to do so,” he said.
He also called on Israeli citizens not to carry out revenge attacks.
“Israeli citizens must not raise a hand against innocent civilians on either side. Israel is a state of law,” Netanyahu said. “Those who take the law into his hands will pay the price.”
Meanwhile, some 20,000 demonstrators gathered Tuesday in the Arab-Israeli city of Sakhnin in northern Israel to show support for the Palestinians. Arab-Israeli lawmakers, including Ahmed Tibi and Jamal Zahalka, addressed the crowds.
On Tuesday evening, a Palestinian man from Bethlehem was killed during clashes in the West Bank city with Israeli troops. The Palestinian Maan news agency reported that the man, whom it identified as Mutaz Ibrahim Zawahreh, 27, was hit with a live bullet in the chest.
Palestinian Gazans earlier in the day rioted at the border with Israel, with dozens breaking through the border fence in southern Gaza. They were turned back with tear gas and rubber bullets.
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