Following the heinous murder of two young Israeli brothers on February 26 by a Palestinian terrorist in the West Bank town of Huwara, riots broke out in which Israelis targeted Palestinians out of revenge. Israeli rioters reportedly set fire to Palestinian businesses, homes and cars, and a Palestinian civilian is reported to have been killed by Israeli gunfire.
Several Israeli leaders have since condemned this reaction to the horrific terror incident, with President Herzog stating that, “This is not our way. It is criminal violence against innocents. It harms the State of Israel, it harms us, it harms settlers. It harms security forces who are busy searching for those responsible for the terror attack, and most of all it harms us as a moral society and a lawful country.” Addressing the riot in Huwara, Netanyahu added, “We will not accept a reality where people… set homes on fire, burn cars, intentionally harm innocent people. This is exactly what our enemies want to see: a loss of control and a never-ending cycle of blood, fire and smoke.”
Several Israeli leaders have since condemned this reaction to the horrific terror incident, with President Herzog stating that “This is not our way. It is criminal violence against innocents. It harms the State of Israel, it harms us, it harms settlers. It harms security forces who are busy searching for those responsible for the terror attack, and most of all it harms us as a moral society and a lawful country.” Addressing the riot in Huwara, Netanyahu added, “I ask—even when the blood is boiling—not to take the law into one’s hands. I ask that the IDF and the security forces be allowed to carry out their work. I remind you that in recent weeks, they have targeted dozens of terrorists and thwarted dozens of attacks. Let the IDF complete its pursuit and do not take the law into your hands; together, we will defeat terrorism.”
Directing anger and grief at innocent civilians will not bring back those who have been murdered by terrorists. Furthermore, expressing support for such violence, as at least one Knesset member has done, is unacceptable. All this does is fuel the flames of hatred and bloodshed.
We wholly condemn riots, violence, and incitement, whether perpetrated by Israelis or by Palestinians, and encourage citizens not to take the law into their own hands, and instead allow Israeli authorities to do their jobs and bring the terrorists to justice.
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