Israel arrests 80 Palestinians in response to teens' kidnapping

Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Abbas has instructed his security forces to help searching the three kidnapped on Thursday night in southern West Bank.

Abbas met with US Consul in Jerusalem Michael Ratney in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and informed him of the search efforts, a Palestinian official said.

"President Abbas told Ratney that although the three Israelis were disappeared in area that is under the full Israeli security control in southern West Bank, the security forces will help finding them," he added.

The Palestinian official also said that the United States refused to hold the Palestinian National Authority responsible for what had happened, but called on the Palestinians to move on all levels to resolve the problem.

Also on Saturday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the West Bank abduction, and called for their immediate release in a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Ban expressed "his deep concern about the trend toward violence on the ground and attendant loss of life, including today of a child in Gaza as a result of a recent Israeli airstrike."

"The Secretary-General urges all to exercise restraint and lend their urgent support for the release and safe return of the three youths," the statement said.