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Senate foreign relations chairman: Abbas must act

WASHINGTON -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas must do more to stem the tide of violent, religious-fueled terror against Israelis in Jerusalem, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) said on Tuesday.
"To have disorder and terror interrupt the calm of morning prayers is deplorable and sickening to the core," Menendez said, noting that one of the victims, Rabbi Moshe Twersky, is from his state of New Jersey.
US President Barack Obama also condemned the act on Tuesday, calling for calm from both Israelis and Palestinians after a month of violence across the capital.
Ten Israelis have been killed during that time, half of which have also held US citizenship. One was an infant.
"This tragedy demands a forceful response from President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority," Menendez said. "His words of condemnation are welcome, but must be followed up by a sincere demonstration of leadership.
"Abbas should use every tool at his disposal to deescalate this worsening situation in Jerusalem," he continued, "and guide the Palestinian people to reject violence and promote peace."
Menendez' counterpart, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-California), also called on Abbas to condemn the attack "in English, Hebrew and Arabic."
The PA has been accused in the past of issuing different statements in different languages.