From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 1, 2024
At scene of shooting attack, Ben Gvir says Israelis’ ‘right to life’ trumps freedom of movement for Palestinians
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Speaking at an ad hoc press conference at the site of this morning’s shooting attack near the Palestinian city of Tarqumiyah in the southern West Bank, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declares that Israelis’ “right to life prevails over the freedom of movement of the residents of the Palestinian Authority.”
“I intend to demand from those who are responsible for deploying checkpoints in Judea and Samaria. No more taking freedom of movement into account,” he states, coming out strongly against the opening of checkpoints in the territories.
Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a police car on Route 35 near the Idhna-Tarqumiyah junction, just east of a checkpoint between the West Bank and Israel, killing three.
The attack is “a sign for those who are thinking of releasing terrorists,” he continues. “They are scum, they are murderers, they are human animals, they should not be released — they should be shot in the head in a properly run country. I hope the death penalty for terrorists law will finally pass.”
הזכות לחיים גוברת על חופש התנועה של תושבי הרשות הפלסטינית. pic.twitter.com/1pIvmraiyH
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) September 1, 2024
