As the situation in Jerusalem heats up, with daily riots in East Jerusalem, leading to violent clashes between rioters and Israeli Border Police, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, is reportedly adding fodder to the fire with some rhetoric which is inflaming the already tense situation further.

Last week, an Arab resident of East Jerusalem decided to carry out a terror attack on a group of innocent people who were waiting at a light rail stop in Jerusalem, by driving his car into them. As a result of that attack, numerous people were injured and a 3-month-old girl killed.

More recently, following the shooting of Rabbi Yehuda Glick in Jerusalem, Abbas sent a letter of condolence to the perpetrator of that attack’s family, who was killed in a gunfight with Israeli police after he shot Glick in the chest a number of times.

The report on Israel’s Channel 10 news on Sunday was backed up by confirmation from PA Jerusalem Affairs minister Ahmed al-Rawidi, who said that such a letter was indeed sent to the terrorist’s family.

In a part of the letter, Abbas wrote, “With anger, we have received the news of the vicious assassination crime committed by the terrorists of the Israeli occupation army against [your] son Mu’taz Ibrahim Khalil Hijazi, who will go to heaven as a martyr defending the rights of our people and its holy places.”

Following those reports, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman slammed the Palestinian President.

“The move proves more than anything that Abu Mazen (Abbas) is indeed a partner – a partner for terror, a partner for terrorists, a partner for murderers. This despicable letter by Abu Mazen openly supports terror and encourages more killings. I call on the international community to condemn this man who is leading the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to violent and horrible places.”

As well as Lieberman’s condemnation of Abbas’ letter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denounced the Palestinian President.

“While we are trying to calm the tense situation, Abu Mazen sends a condolence letter over the death of someone who tried to commit an abominable murder. The time has come for the international community to condemn him for such moves.”

The violence in Jerusalem continued on Sunday, when an Israeli Border Police officer was lightly wounded during riots by Palestinians in the area of Atarot, north of the capital.

At least 100 Palestinian men threw rocks and other projectiles at police forces who were dispatched to the scene.

Here is a picture of the Abbas letter.