The Palestinian president ignited an uproar in Israel on Thursday after falsely claiming that Israel had "executed" a 13-year-old Palestinian boy, who is recovering in an Israeli hospital, drawing new accusations that he is inciting violence at a time of heightened tensions.
The boy, who was run over by an Israeli vehicle after involvement in the stabbing of an Israeli boy, has become the centre of heated, high-level name-calling between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders reflecting the abyss between them after a monthlong spike in deadly violence.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a televised speech late yesterday that Israel is engaged in the "summary execution of our children in cold blood" and wrongly claimed that 13-year-old Ahmed Manasra was among those killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly accused Abbas of "lies and incitement." The case has become a lightning rod for both sides, as they trade accusations in an increasingly charged atmosphere.