Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to respond to Tuesday’s killings. Speaking after the deadly attacks he vowed to react with a “heavy hand”.
He was unequivocal in his call to the leaders of world powers to condemn the killings absolutely and without reserve.
“I call upon all leaders of the civilised world. I want to see a profound indignation, without conciliation against these acts, these assassinations of Israelis, of Jews. Don’t make distinctions in between blood and blood,” he said.
From Ramallah there were strong words for the Palestinian militants but they were tempered with a reference to attacks on holy sites in Jerusalem.
“We strongly condemn this incident and do not accept under any circumstances attacks on civilians. At the same time we condemn these actions we also condemn the attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque the holy places,” said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The area of Al-Aqsa in the old city of Jerusalem contains the third holiest site in Islam and has been the focus of renewed tension between Palestinians and Israelis in recent weeks.