Netanyahu vows tough response after synagogue attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel will strike back with an iron fist, strong, swift and precise against terrorism. The comments come after a gun attack on a synagogue that killed at least seven Israelis followed a deadly operation by Israeli forces that killed at least 10 Palestinians. The violence between Israelis and Palestinians erupted on the eve of a three-day visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the Middle East. He arrived in Egypt on Sunday and is expected to go to Jerusalem on Monday.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel does not seek escalation, but announced that his government adopted a series of measures to fight terrorism.

"On the one hand, we will increase the number of security forces and their activity, on the other hand, we will make those who carry out terrorist attacks and their supporters pay, " Mr. Netanyahu said.

However, there are still no signs that Israel is preparing for a full-scale military response to the latest attack.

The resulting situation presents a major challenge for the Israeli prime minister, who returned to power in December at the head of the most right-wing government in the country's history amid promises to improve security for the Israeli population.

The incident, which took place on Friday on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, is the worst attack by a Palestinian against Israelis in the Jerusalem area since 2008.

"Dad, you are my hero, you sacrificed your life for others. It will honor you forever," said the son of one of the seven Israeli victims during a burial ceremony on Sunday.

The killings followed a deadly raid by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry announced that two Palestinians died on Sunday of their wounds after being shot by Israeli security forces in two separate incidents. The announcement of the deaths came as Israeli police cordoned off the home of the Palestinian who carried out the synagogue attack on Friday.

Para vizitës së kësaj jave të Sekretarit amerikan të Shtetit, Antony Blinken në rajon, Shtetet e Bashkuara kishin bërë thirrje për uljen e tensioneve.

Sekretari Blinken mbërriti të dielën në Egjipt dhe pritet të shkojë në Jeruzalem të hënën.

Në takimin e tij me administratën e re të Izraelit, pjesë e së cilës janë edhe parti ultra-nacionaliste që duan zgjerimin e vendmanimeve izraelite në Bregun Perëndimor, zoti Blinken pritet të përsërisë thirrjen e Shteteve të Bashkuara për qetësi dhe pritet të theksojë mbështetjen e Uashingtonin për një zgjidhje me dy shtete, megjithëse zyrtarët amerikanë e pranojnë se shanset që bisedimet afagjata të paqes midis izraelitëve dhe palestinezëve të ndodhin në të ardhmen e afërt, janë të pakta.

Shumica e fuqive botërore i konsiderojnë si të paligjshme vendbanimet izraelite në Bregun Perëndimor dhe Jeruzalemin Lindor.

Secretary Blinken will also travel to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has yet to comment on Friday's attack but has blamed Israel for the escalation of violence.

Pope Francis prayed Sunday for an end to violence in the Holy Land.

"I call on the two governments and the international community to immediately find the path of dialogue and sincere efforts for peace, " he said.

The Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, called on both sides for maximum restraint./VOA