Netanyahu: ‘No internal debate will prevent us from hitting back at our enemies’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that ongoing internal debates in Israeli society will not prevent the country from responding firmly and significantly to escalating violence.

Speaking at the start of an emergency security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem following rocket fire from Lebanon, Netanyahu says that he has made clear in recent days to Israel’s enemies that “the internal debate among us will not prevent us from acting against them anywhere and at any time. We are all — with no exception — united on this.”

Netanyahu reiterates that Israel has “no intention to change the status quo on the Temple Mount — we are calling for a calming of tensions, and we will act firmly against extremists who are deploying violence there.”

The prime minister says that Israel “will hit back at our enemies, and they will pay the price for every act of aggression. Our enemies will learn again that during times that we are tested, Israeli citizens stand together and united, and support the actions of the IDF and the rest of the security forces to protect our country and our citizens.”