Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the start of Sunday’s cabinet meeting, discussed security operations against terror and praised the security forces.
“The government is gaining momentum in several areas. First of all, in security. I commend the security forces for eliminating the terrorists that carried out the shooting attack at Avnei Hefetz only a few days ago, after eliminating the terrorists who murdered Lucy, Maya, and Rina Dee, may their memories be for a blessing,” Netanyahu stated.
He noted, “Since the start of the year, we have thwarted and arrested over 110 terrorists, a record number. These counter-terrorist actions entail complex operations, including entering the hearts of cities, while minimizing casualties among our forces and non-combatants, and indeed, 90% of casualties on the Palestinian side are terrorists. I would like to emphasize to the members of the government – this is an international achievement. It is doubtful if any other military and security forces would be capable of achieving the same result in combat areas that are saturated with civilians, but our forces are doing so, and they truly deserve all praise and respect. Every terrorist knows that he will pay a price. The long arm of Israel will find anyone who tries to harm our citizens.”
Not all the seats at Sunday’s cabinet meeting were full despite the Prime Minister’s insistence on the defense establishment’s success, the ministers from Otzma Yehudit were absent from the meeting to protest the government’s security policies.
“In recent days, the Prime Minister and Defense Minister continued with releasing the Jordanian terrorist, freeing the bodies of terrorists, and more. We don’t accept it, and it can not continue this way. The policy must change, and the government must move to a fully right-wing policy. We received the mandate from the public to change the direction it must happen,” stated National Security Minister and Otzma Yehudit Chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The absence of the Otzma Yehudit ministers comes in response to what they see as a weak response to rocket attacks last week from terror organizations in Gaza. In addition, the party is at odds with the Likud after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant authorized the transfer of the bodies of several terrorists to the Palestinian Authority and the release of Jordanian member of parliament Imad al-Adwan, who was suspected of smuggling weapons into the country via the Allenby crossing.
Following the latter decision, Ben-Gvir stated: “The decision to release the terrorist who tried to bring here hundreds of weapons that will be used for terrorist attacks and acts of crime in the heart of the State of Israel is a strategic and moral mistake.
This issue should also have been brought to the cabinet, and this right-wing government is expected to stop the policy of no deterrence for Gaza, the Jordanians, the Lebanese, and any terrorist who seeks to harm the residents of Israel. This diplomat should have been in prison for many years and not be released.”