Israeli leader slams criticism of crackdown as ‘utterly unfair’
Recent clashes have killed 7 Israelis, 30 Palestinians
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded angrily Thursday to U.S. suggestions that Israel might be using excessive force in response to a series of stabbing attacks by Palestinians, saying any other nation would respond in a similar manner.
Israeli officials also refuted claims by Palestinians that a 13-year-old assailant had been killed earlier this week after stabbing and wounding an Israeli boy.
Netanyahu, speaking to reporters Thursday evening, delivered a blistering defense of the frequent use of deadly force by police and bystanders to blunt attacks staged by “people wielding knives, axes and meat cleavers” that have taken place this month, mainly in Jerusalem, killing seven Israelis.
More than 30 Palestinians have died in the same time span, some in clashes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The State Department had expressed concern about restrictions on movement of some Palestinians living in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem in response to the current wave of at- tacks, saying it hoped the measures were temporary. Department spokesman John Kirby also referred Wednesday to “some reports of what many would consider excessive use of force” by Israel.
“What would happen in London or Washington or Paris or Rome or anywhere else?” the prime minister demanded. “This allegation is utterly false. It’s also utterly unfair.”
Israel has called for tough new security measures, including revoking the residency rights of those implicated in attacks, the demolition of attackers’ family homes and the deployment of troops alongside police to guard Israeli cities and towns.
Israel has been particularly rattled by near-daily stabbing attacks, which have prompted many people to either stay close to home or exercise great vigilance when out in public. Stores have seen a run on defensive measures such as pepper spray, and social media postings offer advice on how best to treat stab wounds and engage in faceto-face combat.
Thursday also brought a fresh quarrel over Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ claim, in a televised speech Wednesday night, that Israel was “executing our sons in cold blood.” Abbas cited the case of a 13-year-old Palestinian boy who was captured on video as he writhed, injured, on the ground after onlookers intervened in a stabbing attack Monday on a Jewish boy, also 13, who was seriously hurt.
The Palestinian child in the video, however, was not killed; an older cousin who allegedly took part in the attack was. Israel, which has already issued several official statements on the case, on Thursday released footage of the Palestinian boy, Ahmed Manasra, sitting up in his hospital bed and being fed what appeared to be broth. Attacks have persisted despite roadblocks outside some restive Palestinian areas in Jerusalem. On Wednesday evening, an Israeli woman of about 70 was stabbed and moderately wounded as she waited to board a bus near Jerusalem’s busy central bus station.