Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has said yesterday's attack by Palestinians on a Jerusalem synagogue, which left four worshippers and a policeman dead, was the result of a "blood libel" against Israeli Jews.
In a press conference last night, he blamed ongoing incitement by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and the Islamic movement in Israel, and he called on world leaders to demand the Palestinians stop this "wild incitement".
Mr Netanyahu said he had ordered the expedition of the demolition of homes of perpetrators of terrorist attacks and promised other measures to boost security in Jerusalem.
Two Palestinians entered the synagogue, in the ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Har Nof, during morning prayers, armed with a gun, a meat cleaver and knives.
Yossi Barazani, who was praying in the synagogue, hid behind a table when he heard shots and shouts of "Allahu Akbar".
Started shooting
“The two terrorists entered and started shooting in all directions. I could see one of them from my hiding place,” he said. “While trying to escape, the terrorist with the knife appeared right in front of me, with only a chair and a table between us. I retreated and then he turned to the right. I was able to get out, running. As I was leaving I saw a man lying on the floor, covered in blood.”
In a seven-minute killing spree four worshippers were killed and eight other people wounded, including a policeman who was seriously hurt and later died. He was one of three policemen who had rushed to the synagogue and killed the two assailants during a short firefight.
Blood-stained black and white Jewish prayer shawls, prayer books and phylacteries (small boxes containing Torah verses worn by religious Jews when praying) were left on the synagogue floor in the aftermath of the attack.
The four victims, rabbis who all lived on the same street, were buried last night in Jerusalem, in funerals attended by thousands. Three held American citizenship; one came to Israel from Britain.
It was the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians in more than three years, and the worst in Jerusalem since 2008.
The two Palestinians were cousins from the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Jabel Mukaber. Clashes erupted in the neighbourhood following the attack when Israeli security forces came to detain relatives for questioning.
The military wing of the left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Israeli security officials said the two men acted alone and were not affiliated to the Popular Front or any other militant group.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack.
“We condemn the killing of civilians from any side,” he said in a statement. “We condemn the killings of worshipers at the synagogue in Jerusalem and condemn acts of violence no matter what their source.”
He also condemned what he termed Israel’s “invasion” of the al-Aqsa mosque and “provocations” by settlers.
Other officials and websites affiliated with Mr Abbas's Fatah organisation welcomed the attack, describing it as a reaction to recent Israeli actions in Jerusalem. The killings were also praised by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
Militants fired shots in the air and handed out sweets on Gaza streets and in areas of the West Bank.
Although Mr Netanyahu blamed the attack on incitement by the Palestinian president, Yoram Cohen, the head of the Israel Security Agency denied that Abbas was encouraging attacks against Israelis.s
