Netanyahu: Jewish Terrorism an Anomaly, Arab Terrorism is Government-Backed
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Sunday, the Israeli PM said that Jewish terrorism can’t be compared with Arab terrorism. Photo: YouTube screenshot.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected comparisons between Jewish and Arab terrorism.
At his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu pointed out that terrorist attacks perpetrated by Arabs are supported by the Palestinian Authority, while Israel condemns such acts committed by Jewish extremists.
Netanyahu said that unlike Israel, which “disavows, condemns and takes action” against terrorism, the Palestinian Authority “encourages and incites terrorism.” He added, “Arab terrorism attacks us relentlessly and we are fighting it without restrictions. This terrorism is much greater in magnitude; there is no comparison.”
“The government here, and our public, and all bodies and all leaders come out against the phenomena of Jewish terrorism. We condemn, they praise,” he said. “In the Palestinian Authority, public squares and streets are named after them. They pay them salaries.”
The Israeli prime minister’s comments come in the aftermath of criticism against Israel’s Shin Bet security service for methods used in the detention of Jewish suspected terrorists.
In addition, a video of Jewish extremists mocking the death of a Palestinian child made headlines last week. The footage, which was filmed at a Jerusalem wedding, featured a group of far-right activists dancing while holding various weapons. One person held a knife and a molotov cocktail, while another was seen stabbing a photograph of Ali Dawabsha, the 18-month old toddler who was killed in a suspected arson attack in the West Bank village of Duma.
Netanyahu called the video “disgraceful” during Sunday’s cabinet meeting and said the extremist group does not represent religious Zionism.
“To try and link religious Zionism to this group does a very great injustice to a dear public that is loyal to the state, contributes to the state and contributes to the IDF, including to its most outstanding units,” he said.
