Gantz demands PA does more to combat West Bank terror

Defense Minister Benny Gantz says he has demanded that the Palestinian Authority act against terror groups in the West Bank, amid rising violence.

“We demand from the Palestinian Authority not only to speak against terrorism but to act against it. The weapons in the streets and the lack of governance first of all harm the Palestinian residents and the Palestinian Authority itself,” says Gantz, following a briefing at the Military Intelligence headquarters.

“I conveyed this message again today to the authority’s leadership. We will not allow armed men who seek to murder Israelis to roam the territory,”  Gantz says.

“We will pursue and stop them in villages, cities, roads, and wherever necessary. At the same time, we will continue to strengthen the moderate elements and allow the majority who are not involved in terrorism [to have] a good livelihood and a daily routine,” he says.

Regarding US pressure on Israel for it to reexamine the military’s rules of engagement, Gantz says only the chief of staff can determine them.

“The chief of staff, and he alone, determines and will continue to determine the open-fire policies, in accordance with the operational need and the values ​​of the IDF,” he says.

“The commanders and soldiers strictly implement the rules. There was and will be no political involvement in the matter,” Gantz adds.