Netanyahu to Abbas: I expect your help in rescuing our boys

Netanyahu to Abbas: I expect your help in rescuing our boys

June 16, 2014 Israel Hayom

Shlomo Cesana, Gideon Allon, Yori Yalon, Shlomi Diaz, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

In first conversation between the two leaders in over a year, prime minister says: Terrorists kidnap innocent children, while we save lives of Palestinian children in our hospitals • Yair Lapid urges "zero tolerance toward terrorism."

For the first time in over a year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, demanding assistance in rescuing three Jewish teens believed to have been abducted by Hamas terrorists.

Gil-ad Shaer, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frenkel have been missing since Thursday night, when they hitchhiked home from a school near Hebron.

"I expect your assistance in returning the abducted boys home and in capturing the kidnappers," Netanyahu told Abbas. "The Hamas kidnappers came out of Palestinian Authority-controlled territory, and returned to Palestinian Authority-controlled territory."

"This incident reveals the nature of the kind of terror that we face. Terrorists kidnap innocent children, while we save the lives of sick Palestinian children in our hospitals. That is the difference between our humane policy and the murderous terrorism against us. You must understand the implications of your partnership with Hamas -- it is bad for Israel, bad for the Palestinians and bad for the region."

Abbas condemned the kidnapping, issuing a statement saying, "The Palestinian Authority would like to reiterate the importance of not being dragged into violence on any side, especially in light of the fact that our position is that we must continue to work intensively to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners."

Abbas stressed that the "Palestinian security forces were making every effort to maintain peace and stability and to prevent the situation from devolving into chaos."

Meanwhile Monday, the diplomatic-security cabinet convened another special session where defense officials briefed ministers about the developments in the investigation and the potential retrieval of the missing teenagers.

"These teenagers were kidnapped and the kidnapping was carried out by Hamas," Netanyahu told reporters on Sunday, further pledging "serious consequences" should any harm befall the three.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement Sunday that the "United States strongly condemns the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers and calls for their immediate release. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we hope for their quick and safe return home."

"We continue to offer our full support for Israel in its search for the missing teens, and we have encouraged full cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian security services," Kerry said.

"We understand that cooperation is ongoing. We are still seeking details on the parties responsible for this despicable terrorist act, although many indications point to Hamas' involvement. As we gather this information, we reiterate our position that Hamas is a terrorist organization known for its attacks on innocent civilians and which has used kidnapping in the past."

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon leveled harsh criticism at the Palestinian Authority Sunday, saying, "The Palestinian Authority, which some call moderate, has just recently struck an alliance with Hamas, a terrorist organization that advocates the murder of Jews and aspires to overrun Judea and Samaria. Hamas is responsible for the abduction of these boys and we will know to exact a heavy price from its leadership, anywhere and at anytime we see fit to do so."

"We need to deal Hamas a massive blow, not negotiate with them," International Relations, Intelligence and Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz told Channel 10 Monday. "Israel's security forces are sparing no effort to find the boys and they're doing a fantastic job. We will continue with our efforts and -- just as important -- we will punish those responsible for this."

Steinitz criticized Abbas, saying that while "Hamas is primarily responsible for the abduction, the PA is also responsible, whether they like it or not. The PA is also responsible because it's cooperating with terror groups."

Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who serves on the Ddiplomatic-Security Cabinet, said Sunday, "The safety and security of the Israeli public mandates the State of Israel exercises zero tolerance toward any act of terrorism and subject its perpetrators to severe punishment. I urge everyone to support our security forces and allow them to do their job using all the resources at their disposal."

Tourism Minister Uzi Landau blamed the U.S. for the situation, saying, "The American administration's willingness to recognize the Abbas-Hamas government is encouraging terror. It has compromised the safety of Israeli citizens."

Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said Sunday that security forces were "operating under the assumption that the boys are alive. We will not rest until we bring them back."

Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon said Israel "will know who to exact a price from these heinous kidnappers. Once the three are back we will know how to deal with the Palestinian leadership, as well."

MK Shelly Yachimovich (Labor) said Sunday that "we have to do everything within our power to bring the boys home. Israel's concern for its sons is one of its fundamental values and it makes us stronger -- not weaker."

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi told Israel Radio Monday that officials in the U.S. and Europe were critical of Hamas over the abduction, and added that Israeli missions worldwide were instructed to increase their public diplomacy efforts, specifically by illustrating how the link between the PA and Hamas has contributed to the abduction.

Abbas, he said, was beginning to understand the mistake he made in partnering with Hamas.

Hanegbi stressed that the security collaboration between Israeli and Palestinian security forces was ongoing.

"Our hearts go out to Gil-ad, Eyal and Naftali, and their families. Our security forces are sparing no effort to find them and bring them home," President-elect Reuven Rivlin posted Sunday on his Facebook page.

"One cannot imagine the cruelty and cowardice of those who would abduct young boys making their way home. All of Israel is praying for their safe return."