Israel pledges "iron hand" against Arab violent protests

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Tuesday to take "iron hand" against a wave of Arab violent protests and blamed the Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas for stoking the tensions.

These punitive measures include demolition of houses of Arabs who are responsible for attacks against Israelis, Netanyahu said in a televised statement.

He also vowed to take an "iron hand" against dozens of Palestinians in Israel and east Jerusalem who have been clashing with the police over the past weeks. Netanyahu said that violent demonstrations will be dealt with harsher punishment, including penalties for parents of stone-thrower Arab protesters.

"Those elements that are stirring up unrest in Jerusalem" will be outlawed, Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu accused Abbas for not being "a partner" to the efforts of curbing the recent unrest. "Instead of calming the situation, he is inflaming it," he said.

Earlier Tuesday, the Palestinian President accused Netanyahu for igniting a "religious war" by allowing Jewish hardliners to visit the sensitive al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem.

The wave of violence is stoked by tensions over access of Israelis to the holy site, known to Muslims as Harem al-Sharif (" Noble Sanctuary") and to Jews as the Temple Mount. Enditem