Prime Minister Ariel Sharon this evening, telephoned GOC Personnel Maj.-Gen. Elazar Stern, who was assaulted yesterday, along with members of his family, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Sharon expressed his support for Maj.-Gen. Stern and said that he views with utmost gravity, “this deplorable act of violence”. The Prime Minister said that he knows that Maj.-Gen. Stern and his family are under great pressure, including threatened attacks, and conveyed to him his high regard.

Prime Minister Sharon commended Maj.-Gen. Stern’s decision to return to the Western Wall for prayers today.

Prime Minister Sharon later spoke with Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra and IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz and instructed them to take all necessary measures to ensure that IDF officers and soldiers are able to pray at the Western Wall without being assaulted by other worshippers. The Prime Minister directed the three to make every effort to arrest those who perpetrated the aforementioned acts of violence and called on religious Zionist leaders to come out against such acts.