At scene of shooting attack, Ben Gvir says Israelis' 'right to life' trumps freedom of movement for Palestinians

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.”