Posted on 02/10/23
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to crack down on anyone involved in Friday's deadly ramming attack in Jerusalem, according to Arutz-7. He instructed for reinforcements to be sent to the area and for investigations and arrests to be carried out immediately within the circle of the attacker. The Prime Minister also decided to immediately seal and demolish the home of the 31-year-old attacker, Hussein Karaka, an Israeli-Arab resident of the Issawiya neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem.
President Isaac Herzog expressed his sorrow for the attack, which claimed the lives of a young man and a child, saying, "Just before Shabbat, our hearts are pained by the terrible news of a despicable terrorist who took the lives of a little boy and a young man in a car-ramming attack in Jerusalem. Together with the People of Israel I grieve with the families and pray for the recovery of the injured."
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir pledged to restore security to the public by closing the Issawiya neighborhood of Jerusalem with police roadblocks. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana commented on the recurring attacks, saying, "Yet again, screaming, pain, and mourning. Yet again, children."
Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin expressed shock at the attack, saying, "I am shocked by the terrible terrorist attack in Jerusalem. A vile terrorist murders Jews with unimaginable cruelty whose only sin was being Jews." Minister Bezalel Smotrich added, "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. The responsibility is heavy and keeps me up at night. I pledge to do everything, everything, to bring security to the citizens of Israel with God's help."
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and Minister of Construction and Housing also condemned the attack, with the latter saying, "Palestinian terrorism must not be allowed to rise. You have to act hard and firmly against the threats and their senders."
Minister of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, called for the elimination of terrorism, saying, "In the face of terrorism, there is only one way - to take a heavy hand, without consideration and without legal and political restrictions." Minister Nir Barkat expressed his heartbreak at the attack and criticized the Palestinian Authority for encouraging terrorism by paying terrorists for killing Jews.
MK Almog Cohen praised the armed citizens who prevented a larger attack and called for action against terrorism. Yisrael Beyteinu leader Avigdor Liberman also condemned the attack, calling it a serious incident.