Netanyahu hails US envoy for telling ‘truth’ about Palestinians rejecting peace

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praises US ambassador to Israel David Friedman for blaming the Palestinian Authority for the lack of Israeli-Palestinian peace.

“I want to congratulate US Ambassador Friedman, who tweeted the truth, unvarnished, straight forward,” Netanyahu tells foreign journalists at a New Year’s reception sponsored by the Government Press Office in Jerusalem.

“He said some important things: Abbas’s government is supporting murderers who murdered the father of 6,” he says.

Switching to Hebrew, Netanyahu goes on to say that catching the perpetrator’s of yesterday’s deadly terror attack is “a matter of time.”

“I spoke to the head of the Shin Bet and he told me of the intensive efforts into the murderous attacks yesterday,” he says. “I have no doubt its a matter of time.”

Earlier today, Friedman tweeted: “An Israeli father of six was killed last night in cold blood by Palestinian terrorists. Hamas praises the killers and PA laws will provide them financial rewards. Look no further to why there is no peace.”

Friedman, a supporter of West Bank settlements, was referring to payments to the families of imprisoned Palestinians, including those who have carried out attacks against Israelis, and to those killed while carrying out attacks.