Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of “executing our sons in cold blood.” Photo: Wikipedia.

JNS.org – In a televised address on Wednesday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of “executing our sons in cold blood” and held up a picture of a 13-year-old Arab boy from eastern Jerusalem who stabbed an Israeli boy of the same age in Pisgat Zeev on Monday. In fact, the attacker, Ahmed Manasra, was shot and wounded by police and is currently receiving treatment at an Israeli hospital in Jerusalem, where he is in a stable condition.

In his speech, Abbas said Israel’s “rejection” of peace and continued construction in Judea and Samaria were to blame for the ongoing wave of violence. He went on to say peace and stability would only be achieved if Israel ends its “occupation” of Palestinian lands.

Abbas did not condemn the recent wave of Palestinian terrorist attacks. He claimed Israel’s actions are “threatening to spark a religious conflict that would burn everything, not only in the region but also in the whole world.”

“We will not give in to the logic of using power and the aggressive policy of the occupation that the Israeli government is implementing as well as its herd of settler followers who are acting with terrorism against our people, our holy sites, our homes, our trees, and executing our sons in cold blood, as they did with this boy Ahmed Manasra and other children in Jerusalem and other places in Palestine,” Abbas said.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Palestinian leader of spreading lies and inciting his people to violence.

“The boy of whom he speaks is alive and hospitalized at Hadassah after he stabbed an Israeli child who was riding on a bike,” the Prime Minister’s Office statement said. “While Israel maintains the status quo on the Temple Mount, Abbas makes inflammatory statements that make cynical use of religion and encourage acts of terrorism.”

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said, “Abbas and his people are continuing their lies and incitement. The blood of our dead and wounded citizens are on their hands.”

Immigrant Absorption and Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin said, “The main inciter must be treated as if he was a terrorist himself.”

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid said, “Abbas is continuing his campaign of incitement and lies. His speech will add fuel to terrorism and hatred.”