In a statement Thursday, President Reuven Rivlin called for calm, stressing that Israel would persevere in the wake of recent tension in Jerusalem, and especially after the attempted murder of Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick Wednesday night by an Islamic Jihad terrorist.

“I wish to offer my prayers that Yehudah Glick should have a full and speedy recovery, and send my support to his family,” Rivlin said. “This brutal attempted murder last night in Jerusalem, marks a further escalation of violence and terrorism in the city.”

Rivlin made the statement a day after returning from a state visit to Poland, and after a meeting earlier with a delegation from the European Parliament. “From the moment I landed from Poland, I have followed with concern the developments, and this morning, I have extended to the Special Police Unit, along with the police and intelligence organizations my support for their rapid and targeted actions,” the President said.

“Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, we cannot tolerate the existence of terrorism in the city. We must act forcefully and without hesitation against the perpetrators. At moments such as these, it is crucial we are not dragged into a dangerous whirlpool of emotions. e must allow our security forces to act to bring to justice the terrorist organizations who participated in this crime.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday praised police for their quick apprehension and elimination of the terrorist who shot and seriously wounded Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick.

“I wish to congratulate police for their quick solving of this case, and I send out my wishes to Yehuda Glick for a speedy and full recovery,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“I said just a few days ago that we are facing an unprecedented wave of incitement from the Palestinian Authority and Islamic groups, and of PA chief Mahmoud Abbas personally, who himself said that Jews must be prevented from entering the Temple Mount by any means necessary. I am still waiting to hear a condemnation of Abbas' comments by the international community,” Netanyahu said.

That international community, said Netanyahu, was acting very hypocritically by ignoring the PA's incitement while condemning for building in Jerusalem. “It is they who are trying to change the status quo, not us,” said Netanyahu. “I have ordered an increase in the police and securiy presence in Jerusalem to ensure that security will be maintained, especially at the holy places. This could be a long and difficult struggle, and in this, like previous struggles, we must remain steadfast while attempting to defuse tensions. No one may take the law into his own hands, and all our actions must be responsible, as well as determined,” he added.

Glick - who founded and heads the LIBA Initiative for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount  was deliberately targeted for nationalistic reasons. Security forces killed an Islamic Jihad terrorist, a resident of Abu Tor in East Jerusalem, on Thursday morning, on suspicion that he was involved in the shooting of Glick.

Glick was shot outside Jerusalem's Begin Center, which had been hosting an event to help in efforts to re-establish a greater Jewish presence on the Mount Wednesday night. He was rushed to Sha'arei Tzedek Medical Center for immediate medical treatment and remains in serious condition.