Israeli police will catch those behind the attempted killing of a Palestinian youth in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra told Israel Radio on Thursday.

Ezra was speaking a day after a 16-year-old Palestinian was hospitalized in critical condition after being injured by large stones thrown by Jewish extremists in Gaza.

Knesset (parliament) member Shaul Yahalom described the attack as "un-Jewish and immoral," according to the radio.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Wednesday night that the government must take necessary measure to end violence and road blockages by right-wing opponents of the planned pullout from the Gaza Strip.

"The battle now is not over the disengagement plan, but over the image and future of Israel, and under no circumstances can we allow a lawless gang to try to take control of life in Israel," he said.

"The country's citizens must understand this danger and every measure must be taken to end this rampaging," he added.

Sharon's remarks came at the end of a day in which anti-pullout activists throughout the country clashed with both the security forces and the Palestinians.

Source: Xinhua