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Kerry says Palestinians must end incitement, Abbas alleges Israeli “executions” at UN

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US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday called for “creative” leadership by both Israeli and Palestinian leaders. In particular, he said that Palestinian leaders must end incitement against Israel.

Speaking about US foreign policy in the Middle East at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, Kerry addressed a wide range of issues, including the wave of violence targeting Israelis, in which 12 Israelis have been killed. Kerry said that the violence “hurts everyone” but insisted on “Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens.”

He called for “Firm and creative leadership on both sides.” In particular, he said, “It is vital Israel take steps that empower Palestinian leaders to improve economic opportunities, quality of life for their people.” However, he also insisted “It is equally important for Palestinian leaders to cease the incitement of violence and to offer something more than rhetoric.”

Israeli leaders have accused Palestinian leaders, including Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas of stoking the current violence with incendiary rhetoric. In particular, they have taken issue with Abbas’ claim that Israel is “executing” Palestinians, by shooting terrorists in the midst of stabbing attacks on Israelis. However, addressing the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHCR) yesterday, Abbas repeated the allegation that Israeli committed “extrajudicial killings against unarmed civilians.” He did not mention the attacks which have targeted Israelis during the last month and called for a “special regime of protection” for the Palestinian people.

Israeli leaders have also repeatedly publicly denied Palestinian claims that Israel intends to alter the status quo at the emotive Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which has been a focal point of the current violence. However, Abbas insisted yesterday that the unrest was fuelled in part by Israeli changes to the status quo.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UNHRC Eviatar Manor responded to Abbas’ speech saying “What we have witnessed today is the glorification of terror and violence.”