Kerry urges Netanyahu to 'move beyond rhetoric' and take steps to end wave of violence

Prime minister meets US secretary of state in Berlin amid wave of terror attacks in Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: OCTOBER 22, 2015 12:32
Netanyahu to Kerry: It's time the world hold Abbas accountable for incitement
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin on Thursday, saying that the time had come for Israel and the Palestinians to agree on the steps that must be taken to "move beyond condemnations and rhetoric" and stop the current round of terror attacks plaguing Israeli cities.
Kerry was beginning a four-day trip to Europe and the Middle East aimed at deescalating the violence which has seen ten Israelis killed in terror attacks and dozens of Palestinian attackers and rioters killed by Israeli forces.
Netanyahu reiterated his assertion that the current wave of terror is "driven directly" by incitement from Hamas, the Islamic Movement of Israel, and the Palestinian Authority and its leader, Mahmoud Abbas.
"I want to thank you and the US for condemning the terrorist attacks against Israel, for standing up for our right of self defense," the prime minister told Kerry.
"We remain committed to the status quo. We’re the ones that protect all the holy sites," Netanyahu said, refuting Palestinian claims that Israel is seeking to change the status quo at the Temple Mount.
"Israel is acting to protect its citizens as any democracy would in the face of such wanton and relentless attacks," he said in response to charges that Israel has used excessive force in stopping the attacks.
"To generate hope, we have to stop terrorism. To stop terrorism, we have to stop the incitement," he stated.
"It’s time that the international community told President Abbas to stop the incitement and hold him accountable for his words and his deeds," he added.
Kerry said that "it is absolutely critical to end all incitement, to end all violence and to find a road forward to build the possibility which is not there today for a larger process."
"So we have to go steps, but today you and I can really rekindle that process," he added.
Kerry said that he had spoken to Jordan's King Abdullah and Abbas, and had received the impression that "everyone wants this to deescalate."