During a visit to a West Bank settlement that has been the scene of numerous attacks, he also said work permits would be withdrawn for families of alleged attackers and pledged there would be “no limits” on the powers of Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.
Advertisement
The wounded – two soldiers and one border police officer – were evacuated for medical treatment after the incident at the Tapuah junction south of the northern city of Nablus.
An 18-year-old Palestinian woman, identified by medical sources as Samah Abdullah, was shot and severely wounded in the same attack, apparently by accident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly demanded that Washington accept Israeli construction in the large settlement blocs in exchange for a series of Israeli measures in the West Bank to alleviate recent tensions with the Palestinians.
The Palestinian health ministry said that 97 Palestinians had been killed in violent confrontations with Israel.
Later, a Palestinian driving a taxi attempted to ram into civilians then charged at them with a knife before being shot dead by a civilian, police said.
Palestinian national and Islamic groups announced their opposition to Kerry’s visit and called for demonstrations and protest marches in the West Bank, including one from Ramallah to the settlement of Beit El.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement the police officer ordered the girls to halt their attack, and shot them when they came toward him. She died when an Israeli in a vehicle spotted her chasing an Israeli girl with a knife knocked her down.
The attacks were the latest in a wave of violence that has left 19 Israelis and 89 Palestinians – majority assailants – dead over the past seven weeks.
Israel says the violence stems from Palestinian incitement and incendiary videos on social media.
The Israeli regime routinely orders the demolition of the houses of those Palestinians whom it accuses of being involved in attacks against Israelis. “We are entering into villages, communities and homes and are carrying out widespread arrests”, said Netanyahu, who appeared to be wearing a bulky flak jacket under his coat.
“The General Assembly has established an entire United Nations division dedicated to promoting the Palestinian narrative and denigrating Israel”, he said.
Palestinians blame changes to the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound – Islam’s third most-holy site but known to Jews as Temple Mount – as the spark for the bloodshed. I want to make peace.
He said that an worldwide investigation was needed to probe allegations of extrajudicial killings and excessive force by Israelis, and warned that “things are deteriorating”.
“Simply put, the Palestinian people have waited too long”, he said. They are the same people we are supposed to give better lives to. “Such policies and actions are directly contrary to the Government of Israel’s stated intention to pursue a two-State solution”. “You destroyed (the) Palestinian moderate camp”.
Advertisement
Secretary of State John F. Kerry condemned a surge of Palestinian attacks as “acts of terrorism” and declared Tuesday that Israel has the right to defend itself amid a wave of violence that has derailed U.S.-led efforts to resume peace talks.
