In a statement released last night, the Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood MP, condemned the recent wave of “appalling attacks” against Israeli civilians.
Since September 2015, 34 victims have been killed and over 394 injured in 323 shooting, stabbing and car ramming attacks against Israelis. The vast majority of attackers have been Palestinian youths under the age of 25, the youngest attacker was 11-years-old.
Over 170 Palestinians have been killed, with the vast majority killed in the act of terror, and many more attackers arrested.
Mr Ellwood said last night: “There can be no justification for terrorism. I am deeply concerned by the ongoing violence. This tragic situation only underlines the need to improve the situation on the ground and reach a long term resolution to the conflict”.
US Vice President Joe Biden yesterday condemned the failure of the Palestinian Authority and the international community to denounce the latest attacks.
Upon learning that Palestinian officials had described the terrorist who killed American tourist Taylor Force on Tuesday as a “Martyr” and a “hero”, Mr Biden said: “The kind of violence we saw yesterday, the failure to condemn it, the rhetoric that incites that violence, the retribution that it generates, has to stop”.
The Palestinian Authority has honoured terrorists in the latest wave of violence, with official PA school sports competitions and roads named after them and financial rewards given to the families of attackers killed while carrying out terror attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of spreading “incitement and lies” and failing to speak out against the attacks.
US President Obama said in December: “I’ve been clear the Palestinian leaders have to condemn the ongoing attacks and stop incitement”.
