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”.<br /><br />He was unequivocal in his call to the leaders of world powers to condemn the killings absolutely and without reserve.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />From Ramallah there were strong words for the Palestinian militants but they were tempered with a reference to attacks on holy sites in Jerusalem.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.
