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Islamic Extremists Fueling Attacks in Jerusalem

CBN

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Islamic extremists are behind a spate of rock and fire bomb attacks in Jerusalem over the last few months and now he's calling for legislation to stiffen the punishment for such actions.

Tensions have been high since June, when Hamas terrorists abducted and murdered three Israeli teenagers on their way home from school. That attack and massive Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel led to the 50-day Israeli-Hamas conflict during the summer.

"We will not allow the reality of Jerusalem to become one of throwing stones and firebombs, and disturbances," Netanyahu told cabinet members on Sunday.

"This is not coincidental. Islamic extremist elements are trying to set alight the capital of Israel and we will use all necessary force, with determination and responsibility, so that they are unsuccessful," Netanyahu said.

Clashes erupted between Palestinian youth and Israeli security forces on Sunday at the funeral of a 14-year-old Palestinian-American, who was killed during rioting on Friday. The military said he was shot as he was about to hurl a firebomb onto a main highway.

Last week, a Palestinian terrorist drove his car into a crowd at a Jerusalem train station, killing a baby with dual Israeli-U.S. citzenship.  A 22-year-old woman from Ecuador, who was critically wounded in that attack, succumbed to her injuries over the weekend, bringing the death toll to two in that attack.

On Monday, Netanyahu met with top security officials regarding the situation.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said Netanyahu had directed that draft legislation be advanced as quickly as possible "regarding severe punishment for stone-throwing."

According to the statement, the State Attorney's office said they have already called for detention and "stiffer punishments," including "criteria for the possible imposition of economic sanctions on parents of minors who throw stones."

Netanyahu said there's a need to "counter the campaign of incitement being waged against Israel regarding the Temple Mount" and charged that "Islamic elements" and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas are leading those efforts.

Netanyahu said there hasn't been a change in the status quo on the Temple Mount and there are no plans to change it.

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