By YASSER OKBI/ MAARIV HASHAVUAA Palestinian youth waves the national flag as the IDF digs in search of smuggling tunnels at the border east of Gaza City(photo credit: AFP PHOTO)
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said in a statement early Thursday that the culprits behind Wednesday night's shooting attack in Tel Aviv's Sarona complex acted individually, despite belonging to the organization's student group.The PLO said that the youths actions were a 'natural response' to the 'violations' of an 'Israeli occupation.'"Israel announces at every given opportunity its opposition to a peace process, and chooses instead the force of its army," the PLO said. "Israel must cease the 'occupation' of Palestinian land."Munir Jarub, a PLO spokesman, blamed Israel for engaging in violence with the Palestinian people. "Israel must understand that its chosen path of violence, of destroying homes, of enabling the daily entrance of settlers to the Mount Temple, and the 'execution' of Palestiians in the West Bank, bear results.""The Tel Aviv shooting followed a period during which Israel chose to ignore calls for peace, and in the absence of a vision which promises rights to the Palestinian people" Jarub added.Jarub claimed that Israel 'exaggerates' the use of its military force, which "does not make a distinction between Palestinian elderly, women, and children," and fails to understand that Israeli "harassment and crimes are part of their daily lives."