Gallant warns terror groups of ‘crushing’ response to attacks over Jewish holidays

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warns terror groups “not to test” Israel during the upcoming Jewish holiday season, and promises a “crushing” response if they launch attacks.

“We are in a complex security period in all the areas, and especially in [the West Bank] and surrounding Jerusalem,” Gallant says during an assessment with senior military and defense officials.

“In order to make sure that the citizens of Israel will get through the holiday season safely, the defense establishment is being widely deployed, in intelligence, in the protection of the roads and settlements, and in operations to foil terror operatives and those who send them,”  he says.

Gallant tells the officials that “during this period, there will be those who will try to harm us under the auspices of the holidays.”

“Against the terror elements, we will take defensive actions, and if an offensive is required, we will do so in a crushing manner,” Gallant says.

“I suggest to all the terror elements, in the [West Bank], in Gaza, in Lebanon, or anywhere else, don’t test us,” he adds.