Palestinian protestors carry an injured comrade during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence between Israeland the Gaza Strip on October 11, 2015, east of Gaza City. (Xinhua Photo)
RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM/GAZA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians are still running high as the two sides continue to trade accusations against each other on Thursday.
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Thursday called on the Israeli government to oblige its ministers to avoiding incitement against the Palestinians and their leaders.
"We call on the Israeli government to act on stopping what could ignite violence and incitement because this creates an atmosphere that leads to more tension and violence," the PNA presidency said in a statement.
The statement was apparently referring to earlier remarks by the Israeli Minister of Justice Elit Shakid, who said she will take measures to shut down the official Palestinian TV station.
According to Israel Public Radio, Shakid condemned remarks of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, describing Abbas as "a terrorist that it is not allowed to have a dialogue with."
"There are incitements against Israel which come from the PNA-controlled territories and it is time to shut down Palestine TV station," said Shakid, according to Israeli radio.
Some other ministers in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have accused Abbas of fanning the tension against Israel "instead of stopping terrorism."
Violence between Israel and the Palestinians has been rising since early October, leaving 33 Palestinians and seven Israelis dead and 1,000 Palestinians and 92 Israelis injured.
A Palestinian woman is helped to put a Hamas scarf over her mouth and nose during clashes with Israeli security forces in Beit El, near the West Bank city of Ramallah on Oct. 10, 2015. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
In Israel, Netanyahu's office said in a statement, condemning remarks made by Mr. Abbas in which he blamed Israel for the escalation in violence between Israelis and Palestinians in recent weeks.
"Abu Mazen's comments last night were incitement and lies," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement, referring to Abbas' speech a day earlier.
In the televised speech, Abbas accused Israel of escalating violent actions and using excessive force against Palestinians.
He specifically blamed Israel for executing a 13-year-old Palestinian, who was suspected of carrying out a lethal stabbing attack in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu's office rejected the accusation.
"The youth he is talking about is alive and hospitalized in Hadassah Hospital after he stabbed an Israeli youth," the statement said.
The prime minister's office also said that Israel wishes to maintain the status quo in the holy site of Temple Mount (or the Noble Sanctuary, as Muslims refer to it) in East Jerusalem.
"Abbas, with his words of incitement, makes cynical use of religions and thus brings about terrorism," the statement read.
The United States also criticized Israel's conduct on Wednesday, with the State Department suggesting Israel might have used excessive force, mostly in its treatment of alleged Palestinian suspects, and denouncing Israel's expansion of settlements in the West Bank as one of the factors for the current escalation.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is reportedly planning to visit the region in hopes of stopping the violence and restarting a diplomatic dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.
Also on Thursday, several Palestinian factions and political groups said Friday will be another day of rage against Israeli measures and settler assaults toward Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L, front) addresses the opening of the winter session of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem, on Oct. 12, 2015. (Xinhua Photo)
The factions said in separate emailed press statements that Palestinians are urged to join the demonstrations organized after Friday prayers in all Palestinian territories.
The Islamic Hamas movement said the entire Palestinian population is to participate in the demonstrations arranged for Friday afternoon.
"Clashes and confrontations will flare tomorrow in response to the Israeli occupation's crimes against our people," Hamas said in a statement.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) similarly said in a statement that Friday will be a day of rage in the occupied territories of Palestine comprising East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
"Palestinians must resist the Israeli occupation's organized state terrorism," said the DFLP statement. "The popular Intifada won't kneel before the bloody terrorist actions of the occupiers and settlers."
Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry announced the death of a 46-year-old Palestinian from al-Janeya village, west of Ramallah, following a heart attack Thursday after he was attacked by Israeli settlers and soldiers.
The ministry said in a press statement that the victim and his family were attacked by Israeli settlers and soldiers on their way home after picking olives from their farm.
