Netanyahu: PA blasts ramming attacks in France, while encouraging them in Israel

Terrorism is terrorism whether it takes place in France, or in Israel, Netanyahu says at cabinet meeting.

By HERB KEINON
Updated: JULY 17, 2016 12:47
Netanyahu PA blasts ramming attacks in France, while encouraging them in Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the Palestinian Authority for condemning the ramming attack in Nice on Friday, while encouraging such attacks in Israel.
“We experienced over the last few few days a shocking attack in Nice, which again shows the need for a united and aggressive position against the murderous terrorism that is striking the entire world,” Netanyahu said at the outset of the weekly cabinet meeting.
He said that he sent a letter of condolences and support to French President Francois Hollande in the name of government and the people of Israel.
“The Palestinian Authority also sent condolences and condemnations, but with one difference,” he said. “Here not only do they not condemn ramming attacks, they encourage them. They praise the murderers and support them and their families in case the murderers are killed.”
Terrorism is terrorism whether it takes place in France, or in Israel, Netanyahu said, adding that a united approach both to condemn and battle terrorism is needed in Israel and everywhere else.
Netanyahu also made his first public comments about the situation in Turkey, saying that Israel believes the recently agreed upon reconciliation agreement between Israel and Turkey will continue “without any connection to the dramatic events in Turkey over the weekend.”
Deputy Regional Cooperation Minister Ayoub Kara (Likud)  told reporters before the cabinet meeting that Israel's interest is “not to intervene in what is happening inside Turkey, because there is an elected government there.”
The Turkish people, he said, have decided that they want Recep Tayyip Erdogan as their president, “and we do not interfere.”
Kara said that Israel is pleased “the crisis is behind us,” and that it only “strengthens the agreement that we wanted, and I think it will ties us closer together.”