John Kerry, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Meet to Condemn Escalating Violence

— -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin today to discuss – and condemn -- the escalating violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories over the past several weeks.

Both called for an end to the incitement, with Kerry adding that now is a time for action above rhetoric.

“Obviously, this conversation that you and I will have is very important to settle on the steps that will be taken that take us beyond the condemnation and beyond the rhetoric,” Kerry said in remarks before their meeting. “It is absolutely critical to end all incitement and all violence, and to find a road forward to build the possibility that is not there today for a larger process.”

Netanyahu asked the international community to tell Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to “stop spreading lies about Israel.”

He reiterated that Israel is committed to maintaining the status quo agreement at the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Palestinians have argued that the latest round of violence that began in early October was triggered by Israeli provocations at the mosque, with visits by far-right settlers and ministers, escorted by Israeli security. Israel’s chief rabbi says Jews are not allowed to pray on the Temple Mount and Netanyahu has argued that nothing has changed in the unwritten agreement that governs the holy site.

Before today’s meeting, Kerry was reportedly looking for “clarity” from Netanyahu on the status of Al Aqsa.

But many Palestinians say the mosque is simply the trigger for the unrest that is fueled by deeper anger over Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. They see the actions at Al Aqsa as an affront to a symbol of Palestinian rights in an occupied city.

It has been another week of unrelenting bloodshed in Israel. A Jewish worshipper was stabbed this morning by two Palestinian attackers at a synagogue. The assailants were said to have tried to board a school bus prior to the stabbing.

Tensions are so high that Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Jew Wednesday night who attacked them after they tried to search him. Soldiers suspected he was a terrorist.

An Eritrean man died after he was shot and beaten by a mob on Sunday. The man was mistaken for an attacker during a raid in southern Israel. At least one Israeli soldier was filmed kicking the man in the head as he lay bleeding on the floor of a bus station.

Kerry said he has spoken with King Abdullah of Jordan and President Abbas about the situation.

“I believe people want this to de-escalate. So let’s go to work, and see what we can do,” he said.

Kerry is scheduled to meet in Vienna Friday with his Russian counterpart, as well as top diplomats from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to discuss conflicts in the Middle East. These will be the first face-to-face talks with Russia since its air offensive over Syria began.

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