Who Is Responsible for the Violence in Jerusalem?

November 30, 2014

“We are witnessing a very serious escalation in Jerusalem. [It] is on the verge of becoming an intifada.”

—Science and Technology Minister (Yesh Atid), Yaakov Perry, formerly the head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet)

Nir Barkat, Jerusalem Mayor Photo by Chatham House/Wikipedia.org “We must restore peace and security in Jerusalem—as I have said for months, the situation in Jerusalem is intolerable and we must act unequivocally against all violence taking place in the city. Today, more than ever, it is clear that we must send police forces into neighborhoods where there are disturbances, placing them strategically and widely in significant numbers.”

—Jerusalem mayor, Nir Barkat

“The atrocious murder of an innocent baby girl, a victim of indiscriminate terrorism, should disgust all those who have a heart. The increasing incitement on the Arab streets and the streets of Jerusalem, which unfortunately receives the backing of leaders in the Arab world, has the ability to destroy the delicate balance of life in Jerusalem, and carry us all into a maelstrom of destruction and pain.”

—Israel President, Reuven Rivlin,

Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister “Attacks in Jerusalem are supported by Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen, who both extols the murderers and embraces the organization that the terrorists belong to, Hamas. And against these actions by the Palestinian Authority Chairman, we find international weakness; they are not prepared to utter so much as a word of criticism against him. We have no such weakness. We will insist on our rights and on our obligation to defend our capital. We will do [so] strongly—and we will win.“

—PM Benjamin Netanyahu

“The perpetrators of terrorism, their supporters, backers and funders, will go to any length to prevent and harm our ability to walk safely in the streets of Jerusalem, and allow the city to flourish and prosper. We must stand determined to safeguard the peace of Jerusalem, and the well-being of her residents. To continue in our daily lives, to insist on overseeing the graves of our forbearers on the Mount of Olives, and go without fear to the Western Wall, the vestige of our Holy Temple.”

—Israel President Reuven Rivlin

“As I went around and met with people in the course of our discussions about the ISIL coalition, the truth is we—there wasn’t a leader I met with in the region who didn’t raise with me spontaneously the need to try to get peace between Israel and the Palestinians, because it was a cause of recruitment and of street anger and agitation that they felt—and I see a lot of heads nodding—they had to respond to. And people need to understand the connection of that.”

—US Secretary of State, John Kerry

Khaled Meshaal Hamas Leader Photo by Trango/Wikipedia.org “We call on all our people inside the country to hurry up to al-Aqsa to defend it. Nobody wants a war, but it’s our right to resist and preserve our rights. We are under occupation…We have been resisting for one hundred years and will continue. Al-Aqsa is worth us becoming martyrs for. Anyone who can carry a weapon in the region should go and defend it, as this is the true meaning of jihad.”

—Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal

Ismail Haniyeh Hamas Leader Photo by moigovps/Wikipedia.org “A murder for a murder, a conflict for a conflict, and a run-over attack for a run-over attack.”

—Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh

“Al-Aqsa Mosque is ours. This Noble Sanctuary is ours. [Jews] have no right to go there and desecrate it. Palestinians must protect it by all means. It is not enough to watch [Jewish] settlers entering into the mosque. They must be prevented.”

—PA President, Mahmoud Abbas

 “The continued occupation of Palestinian lands is the real reason for all the violence that takes place, whether in Palestine or throughout the region.”

—Nabil Abu Rudaineh, spokesman for PA President, Mahmoud Abbas

PA President Abbas wrote to US President Obama, asking him to halt “Israeli aggression” in eastern Jerusalem. He warns that Israel’s provocations “will bring about a widespread explosion that cannot be controlled.”

—PA President, Mahmoud Abbas

 “When Israel PM Netanyahu looks in the mirror, he should know who’s responsible for the miserable situation of Palestinians and Israelis, the escalation of violence and so on. He plants the seeds of desperation.”

—Palestinian chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat

“Israeli occupation of Palestine remains the main source of violence and instability in the region.”

—Palestinian chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat

“The main and only reason behind the clashes were the calls by Israeli extremists to storm Al Aqsa and the ongoing complacency of the Netanyahu government.”

—Azzam Khatib, head of Temple Mount Waqf Department

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