The US State Department condemned Palestinian terror attacks, but in an attempt to strike an evenhanded tone, it blamed Israel as well.
“The United States condemns in the strongest terms today’s terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, which resulted in the murder of three Israelis and left numerous others wounded,” said State Department spokesperson John Kirby. “We mourn any loss of innocent life, Israeli or Palestinian. We continue to stress the importance of condemning violence and combating incitement. We are in regular contact with the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority. We remain deeply concerned about escalating tensions and urge all sides to take affirmative steps to restore calm and prevent actions that would further escalate tensions.”
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, meanwhile, called on Israel to undertake a “serious review” of its potential “excessive” response to Palestinian terror.
“The apparent excessive use of force by Israeli security forces” is “troubling,” said Ban’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, according to AFP. That situation “demands serious review as it only serves to exacerbates the situation leading to a vicious cycle of needless bloodshed,” he added.
The UN has long been criticized by the pro-Israel community for its disproportionate criticism of the Jewish state.
By: JNS.org