Netanyahu to Abbas: I expect you to help bring back the kidnapped teens

PM holds first conversation with Abbas since the kidnapping; Abbas condemns kidnapping and Israeli security response.

By HERB KEINON
Netanyahu at cabinet meeting, June 15, 2014. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Netanyahu at cabinet meeting, June 15, 2014.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a rare telephone conversation Monday that he expected his assistance in securing the return of the three kidnapped teenagers, and that the Hamas-Fatah pact is bad for Israel, bad for the Palestinians and bad for the region.
The conversation came as Abbas issued his first condemnation of the kidnapping of Naphtali Fraenkel, Gil-Ad Shaer and Eyal Yifrach. He also condemned Israeli military action over the past three days. In addition, he praised the Palestinians security apparatus for their work in maintaining the quiet and stability over the past few days, and called for all not to turn to violence.
Netanyahu, according to a statement put out by his office, said that the Hamas kidnappers came from areas under the PA’s control, and returned to those same areas.
“This incident reveals the nature of the terrorism we are fighting,” Netanyahu said. “Terrorists kidnap innocent Israeli children, while we treat in our hospitals sick Palestinian children. That is the difference between our humanitarian policies and the murderous terrorism that attacks us.”