<sod >Â  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuÂ  condemned Tuesday's violence as a "cruel murder of Jews who came to pray and were killed by despicable murderers and vowed to "respond with a heavy hand". Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, the first time he has done so since a recent spike in deadly violence against Israelis. He also called for an end to Israeli "provocations" surrounding the sacred site.< eod>< sod > Â  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuÂ  condemned Tuesday's violence as a "cruel murder of Jews who came to pray and were killed by despicable murderers and vowed to "respond with a heavy hand". Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, the first time he has done so since a recent spike in deadly violence. In a statement, his office said he "condemns the killing of the worshippers in a synagogue in west Jerusalem". The statement called for an end to the "invasion" of the mosque at the holy site and a halt to "incitement" by Israeli ministers.< eod>