Israel’s new security steps: IDF to guard buses, surround Arab neighborhoods
Cabinet measures to counter terror wave include demolishing homes of terrorists and revoking their families’ residency rights
The security cabinet on Tuesday night approved a series of measures to bolster security in Jerusalem and thwart would-be terrorists, in an effort to counter the ongoing wave of violent attacks that has left nine Israelis dead and dozens more injured.
Public transport in the capital will receive extra security, according to the recommendations adopted by ministers. This will be provided by IDF troops until more security guards can be recruited. Earlier Tuesday, two Arab terrorists stormed a bus in the capital, killing two people and wounding more than a dozen more.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel would use “all means” available to curb ongoing Palestinian terrorism and violence, and promised “to bring quiet back to the citizens of Israel.”
Following the speech — given at a special Knesset session to commemorate the killing of cabinet minister Rehavam Ze’evi 14 years ago — the security cabinet passed slew of new security measures to be implemented in the coming days.
The IDF will also bolster its presence in Israeli city centers, while Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem will be surrounded by security forces.
The new measures also aim to deter would-be terrorists from actually carrying out attacks. Terrorists’ homes will be demolished within days of any attacks and families of East Jerusalem terrorists who aren’t Israeli citizens will have their residency status revoked.
So far, the families of five Palestinian terrorists who have murdered Jews will receive demolition orders. They include the families of the men who killed Eitam and Naama Henkin in a West Bank shooting attack some two weeks ago; the man who fatally stabbed Nehemia Lavi and Aharon Benita in Jerusalem 10 days ago; and the killers of Malachi Rosenfeld and Danny Gonen in shooting attacks in the West Bank earlier this year.
Speaking hours after a series of terror attacks Tuesday that left three people dead and several more injured, Netanyahu said he believed the measures “will lead the other side to the realization that terror doesn’t pay.”
“Israel will settle its accounts with the murderers, with those who try murder and with those all those who assist them. Not only will we revoke rights from them; we will exact the full price,” he told the Knesset plenary.
Netanyahu also called on Mahmoud Abbas to stop “lying” about Israel’s actions and warned that he would hold him responsible if incitement led to a further deterioration.
The Knesset session fell during an emergency security cabinet meeting called following Tuesday’s attacks. Netanyahu paused the meeting to deliver his Knesset speech, returning to the Prime Minister’s Office to resume discussions immediately after speaking.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat also demanded a complete closure on the West Bank and East Jerusalem Arab neighborhoods, saying harsher measures were needed to battle a terror wave that has rocked the capital over the last month.
