"One of the most serious attacks in recent years".
This is how Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu defined the Palestinian terrorist attack in front of a synagogue in Jerusalem which left 7 dead and about 10 injured.
"We have decided - he explained - on some immediate concrete steps and the Government Defense Council will approve them in a meeting convened for tomorrow evening".
Netanyahu therefore appealed to the population "not to take the law into their own hands" as there is an army and a police acting on government instructions.
Jerusalem under attack.
A Palestinian opened fire, in the middle of Shabbat, on people in front of a synagogue in the predominantly Orthodox neighborhood of Neve Yaacov, leaving at least 7 dead and a dozen injured on the ground.
Then - according to the Jerusalem police chief - he fled in the car used for the attack towards the nearby Arab neighborhood of Beit Hanina.
Chased and joined by the agents, he shot at him but was killed by the armed reaction of the policemen.
According to the same source, he is a Palestinian from A-Tur, in the east of the city, identified as Alkam Khairi (21 years old), with no previous political affiliation.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad spoke of a "heroic operation" and "revenge for the dead in Jenin" at the
the day after the Israeli counter-terrorism blitz in which 9 Palestinians were killed.
And immediately after the attack on Neve Yaacov there were demonstrations of joy in various Palestinian cities: processions of people celebrating were reported in Jenin, Nablus and Ramallah.
There were also scenes of euphoria in Gaza City and Rafah, in the south of the Strip.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir went to the site of the attack in Jerusalem - amidst strong moments of tension with cries of 'death to the Arabs' - and Benyamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting.
Of the Israeli wounded, some - at least three - are said to be in serious condition.
The attack on Neve Yacoov - condemned by the USA who defined it 'horrible' and by Italy with Minister Tajani who spoke of "
base in the north and an underground rocket construction facility in Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.
Jihad spokesman Tarek a-Salmi for his part explained that it was a "warning" intended for Israel to clarify that the armed factions in Gaza are closely following developments in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant countered that the Israeli security forces were ordered to "prepare for action with a variety of offensive measures and high-quality targets in case continued action is needed."
A warning reiterated by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu: "I pledge to you as prime minister of the only Jewish state - he said for the Day of Remembrance - that we will remain vigilant,
strong and we will never allow the Holocaust to be repeated". "Even today - he added - there are those who, every other day, call for our destruction.
But we will not give in to fear and we will not allow those tyrants to intimidate us". Now it will be the turn of the United States to work. After visits by CIA chief William Burns and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Antony will arrive in the region on Monday Blinken The US secretary of state will see both Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abu Mazen, who after Jenin cut off vital security coordination with Israel.