PM says army has free rein in the West Bank
Netanyahu, during a visit to the Etzion junction, where an Israeli woman was stabbed to death Sunday, dismisses the notion – propounded by coalition politicians such as Education Minister Naftali Bennett – that the army has not been given carte blanche to preempt attacks in the West Bank.
“On the offensive end,” he says, “we’re going into every site. We’re entering [Palestinian] villages, we’re entering towns, we’re entering homes, and conducting widespread arrests. There are no restrictions on the activities of the IDF and the security forces; on the contrary – there’s full support, and this is important.”
Netanyahu says that security forces take advantage of their freedom to act in the West Bank “night in and night out, day in and day out,” preventing a situation where “hundreds of Israelis” are killed every year by suicide bombers and other attackers.
But, he adds, “We need to carry out additional actions to counter what [threats] do exist.”
Netanyahu says that in addition to bolstering its forces in the West Bank in general, the IDF has been stepping up other activities, including checking “every Palestinian vehicle” that travels on major traffic arteries.
He also details actions planned specifically for the Etzion junction, which has seen multiple lethal attacks in recent weeks, describing a “local bypass” of the junction, recommended by “defense officials.”
As far as punitive actions against attackers, he says even extended families of those who carry out attacks are now being denied permission to work in Israel. “Such a family,” Netanyahu says, “is aware of the fact that one of its members is a radical, and anyone who is about to [carry out an] attack – such a family has no right to work in Israel. We revoke it, and that’s important.”
He reiterates his oft-repeated refrain about “internet incitement” and claims that Israel is “also preparing to take care of the social networks using various means.
“But,” he concludes, “I think that the most important means at our disposal are perseverance, bravery and a resolve to fight this terrorism as we have fought its various manifestations over the past century. Those we have in abundance, and with them we will win this time as well.”
