Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon blamed the wave of Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israelis over the past two weeks on incitement that has increased during Ramadan. Photo: Jini/Haaretz.

JNS.org – The wave of Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israelis over the past two weeks is the result of incitement that has increased during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said Wednesday.

Speaking at a conference hosted by the Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center, Ya’alon said, “Unfortunately, the atmosphere during Ramadan is one where incitement is not directed solely against the State of Israel and Jews, but also against the West. In the Palestinian arena, this leads to stabbing and shooting attacks, and while we don’t know who was behind them at this point, it is very likely they were the work of [terrorist] groups.”

In recent months, with regards to “the dozens of terrorists, mainly from Hamas, arrested across Judea and Samaria before they were able to carry out attacks, I know from experience we eventually solve these cases,” said Ya’alon, according to Israel Hayom.

“We reach both the terrorists and those who sent them,” said the defense minister.

He added, “There’s Iranian funding. [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei has declared that terrorists in Judea and Samaria must be funded and armed.”