Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Saturday "a strong, rapid, precise" response to the deadly terror attacks in Jerusalem in which seven people were killed.
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"We will seal and demolish terrorists' houses in an expedited fashion, in order to exact an additional price from those who supported terrorism. This process already started yesterday [Friday] and is in progress," he said at an emergency meeting of the Diplomatic Security Cabinet. Other measures put forward include arming Israeli civilians and harsher measures against Palestinians complicit with perpetrators.
The announcement also said that in response to public Palestinian celebrations over the attacks, Israel would take new steps to "strengthen the settlements" this week. It gave no further details.
#Israel's response to the #Jerusalem terror attacks will be 'strong, rapid, precise'
PM Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at an emergency meeting of the security cabinet. pic.twitter.com/rbCjY8yd0m
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) January 28, 2023
Netanyahu sent his "heartfelt condolences to the families of those murdered in the heinous and terrible attack" and thanked "the President of the United States, my friend Joe Biden, who spoke with me and expressed his shock and sorrow at this terrible act of murder. I also thank many other leaders, including from Arab countries, for standing by Israel at this time. We all pray for the recovery of those wounded in the two attacks." He thanked "the police and the security forces for their determined and quick action, as well as the resourcefulness and bravery shown by ordinary citizens, who shot the terrorists and thus saved lives."
Friday's shooting – outside a synagogue in east Jerusalem on the Shabbat – left seven Israelis dead and three wounded before the gunman was killed by police. It was the deadliest attack on Israelis in 15 years. Authorities published the names of four of the victims. They included 14-year-old Asher Natan; Eli Mizrahi, 48, and his wife Natali, 45; and Rafael Ben Eliyahu, 56. Funerals for some victims were scheduled Saturday night.
In response to the shooting, the police beefed up activities throughout east Jerusalem and said they had arrested 42 people, including family members, who were connected to the shooter.
Later Saturday, a 13-year-old Palestinian opened fire elsewhere in east Jerusalem, wounding an Israeli man and his son, ages 47 and 23. Both were fully conscious and in moderate to serious condition in the hospital. The terrorist was neutralized.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
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