Israel announced that the country will institute harsh retaliation after Palestinian terrorists murdered five people, which left blood-smeared prayer books and shawls on the floor of a Jewish synagogue in Jerusalem.

The attack only elevated the tension in a country that has been marred by religious violence.

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The synagogue attackers have been identified as Ghassan and Oday Abu Jamal, first cousins who lived on Jabal Mukaber in east Jerusalem. Both were killed in the shootout following their murderous assault.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement that condemned the attack, the first time that the Palestinian leader did so following a series of violent attacks against Israelis. However, Abbas also called on Israel to stop its "provocations" around Jerusalem's shrines that are both claimed by Muslims and Jews.

U.S. President Barack Obama also condemned the attack as "horrific" and without any viable reasons. He called on Israel and Palestine to cooperate in easing the tensions and end the conflicts that have already claimed the lives of many.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the demolition of the homes of the attackers. However, it seemed that Israeli police will have a hard time in maintaining peace and order in Jerusalem, so much more in preventing any violence from occurring in the future.

The police are also faced with lightly-armed assailants who live in annexed east Jerusalem. These locals have been granted residency rights and have the freedom to go anywhere in the country.

Militant Islamic group Hamas lauded the attack, while Palestinians along the Gaza stripped celebrated.

The Jewish victims were identified as U.S.-born Moshe Twersky, 59, Aryeh Kupinsky, 43, and Kalman Levine, 55.

The fourth victim has been identified by the Israeli Foreign Ministry as Avraham Goldberg, 68, a British citizen who immigrated to Israel in 1993.

The hilltop compound located in the Old City, has been claimed both by the Jews and Muslims. The Jews believed it is the Temple Mount, where ancient Hebrew temples used to stand. Meanwhile, Muslims explained that the site is the Noble Sanctuary, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the iconic gold-topped Dome of the Rock. The religious conflicts regarding to who should really own the site has already reverberated to violent assaults by both sides.

A long-standing arrangement exists, allowing Jews to visit the site, although they are not permitted to pray. However, frequent visits by Jewish worshippers, many of who actually pray there, has sparked the ire of Muslims, who accused the Jews of secretly taking over the site, sparking violent confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli police.

Netanyahu announced that he will revive the policy of demolishing homes as a deterrent to any attacks of Muslims living in Israel. Once considered as ineffective, the Israeli officials have changed opinions after the synagogue attack.

The attack was considered as most violent since 2008, when eight students in a Jewish seminary were killed after a Palestinian attack. 

TagsJerusalem Synagogue Attack, Benjamin Netanyu, Israel