“The Palestinian government headed by Mahmoud Abbas is a terrorist government in every way and responsible for the kidnapping of the three teens. As long as he doesn’t dismantle that government, we will not renew diplomatic negotiations with him.”

That is how Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis thinks Israel should respond to the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, even after Abbas delivered his bold speech on June 17 at the Arab League Conference in Saudi Arabia, condemning the abduction of the youths. But Abbas failed to win the hearts of the Israeli public with his comments. Not only was he subjected to criticism at home for his conciliatory speech, the Israeli political right continues to point an accusatory finger at him.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party is still outraged over the abduction of the three teens and over the June 23 report stating that Ziad Awad — a Hamas terrorist released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange — was responsible for the murder of police officer Baruch Mizrahi right before Passover on April 15.

This week, Knesset member Akunis, who serves as liaison between the government and the Knesset, visited the homes of all three abducted boys’ families in Elad, Talmon and Nof Ayalon. It was important for him, he said in an interview with Al-Monitor, to meet the families and deliver the message that they are not alone, and that they have the government behind them.