Trump's Mideast envoy criticizes Israeli revenge attacks on Palestinians
Jason Greenblatt referred to incidents of attacks on Palestinians in response to the deadly recent wave of terror attacks, he also criticized posters calling for the assassination of Mahmoud Abbas.
US President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt issued a condemnation of revenge attacks by Israeli settlers in response to the recent wave of Palestinian violence in the West Bank.
On Thursday, video footage of settlers attacking a Palestinian truck near the settlement of Yitzhar was posted online, and on Friday, Greenblatt tweeted: "The recent Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israelis are unconscionable. But throwing rocks at vehicles that have nothing to do with these attacks is NOT a legitimate response. Innocent people could be killed."
In the video documenting the attack on the Palestinian truck driver, published Thursday by the left-wing NGO B'Tselem, a masked protester can be seen hurling stones at a truck driven by Palestinian Nabil Abdallah. The organization said that, "throughout the day settlers attacked Palestinian cars along (central West Bank artery) Route 60 in various locations." In addition, the NGO said, settlers attacked Palestinian homes in the town of Asira al-Qibliya, near Nablus.
Greenblatt also tweeted in Arabic condemnation of posters hung throughout the West Bank calling for the assassination of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
"As I denounced incitement on the Palestinian side, I deplore the incitement to assassinate President Abbas. That's totally unacceptable! All peace-loving people should denounce such acts as well," he wrote.
The banners, hung in various places throughout the West Bank, feature an image of a target drawn over Mahmoud Abbas alongside the caption "Assassinate the funders of the murder."
Greenblatt tweeted: "Those countries that financially support the PA but ignore the fact that the terrorists and their families will now be rewarded for their vicious actions of murdering Israelis should speak out and consider enacting a law similar to the Taylor Force Act."
The act is named for a US Army veteran who was stabbed to death in a March 2016 terror attack on Jaffa boardwalk. Force's wife was also seriously hurt in the attack.
US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman condemned the attacks on Twitter: "In the past week Palestinian terrorists have killed or wounded 14 Israelis in multiple attacks. The Pal. Authority maintains laws that will compensate these terrorists and their families for their heinous acts. The PA can be a political body OR a sponsor of terror, not both."
Greenblatt also criticized Fatah for a tweet in which the organization led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed the perpetrators of two deadly terror attacks as "Martyrs of the motherland" and "heroes." The tweet also shows images of the two terrorists, one who killed two co-workers at a factory in the Barkan industrial zone, and the other whose shooting of a pregnant woman led to the death of her baby son when he was born prematurely as a result.
"Shame on Fatah! What part of killing a baby or shooting your co-workers is heroic?" he wrote. "This is disgraceful, vile and contemptable."
The IDF Spokesperson's Office said that over the weekend, the IDF, Shin Bet and police forces arrested 40 wanted Palestinians suspected of involvement in terror activities and violent disturbances against civilians and security forces, including 37 known Hamas operatives.
Concerns are growing of a new wave of terror attacks as tensions increase following the two successful shooting attacks last week. Hundreds of troop reinforcements were deployed in the regional divisions of the West Bank.
Freedom of movement for Palestinians was also maintained on roads throughout the West Bank, although sporadic pop-up checkpoints were in use, mainly in the Ramallah area, as forces continued their hunt for the perpetrators.
