The case of the kidnapped and murdered Israeli teens in Hebron is still at the forefront of the Palestinian situation. The Palestinian leadership has been convening since the bodies of the kidnapped were found on July 1, for fear of major reactions. Al-Monitor learned that President Mahmoud Abbas has during the past days made contacts with Washington and European countries to prevent Israel from carrying out a retaliatory military operation.
While Abbas has kept a more conciliatory and empathetic tone when addressing Israel since the beginning of the crisis, as he denounced the kidnapping, Maj. Gen. Jibril Rajoub, the deputy secretary of Fatah Central Committee, has been quite harsh in his comments on the situation.