Abbas expected to condemn spate of Palestinian attacks

WASHINGTON

The U.S. said Wednesday it expects Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to condemn a stabbing spree that claimed the life of an American student and war veteran.

“Our expectation would be that that public officials, and particularly those who are in position of leadership, would condemn any act of terrorism,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters, adding that includes the Palestinian leader.

He said that he does expect the issue to come up when Vice President Joe Biden, who is on regional travel, meets with Abbas at the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah on Wednesday.

American Taylor Force, a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, was killed during Tuesday’s attacks near the Israeli city of Jaffa while on vacation.

At least 11 others were injured. Abbas’ Fatah party reportedly posted a picture of Israel and the Palestinian territories with a knife hanging above, and calling the perpetrator of the attacks a hero and martyr.

During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day, Biden criticized Abbas for his position on the ongoing violence.

"The United States of America condemns these acts and condemns the failure to condemn these acts," he said.

In a separate event, an Israeli reportedly stabbed a Palestinian in the West Bank before fleeing the scene. The individual remains at large.

Tensions have flared between the sides since mid-September when rumors spread that Israel planned to change the status quo on Jerusalem’s Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary -- the third holiest site in Islam.

The site is currently controlled by the King of Jordan, but Israel retains the entrances to the site.

Since then, 28 Israelis have been killed in a series of stabbings, car rammings and shootings, and at least 179 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire.