PM sets up shop in Tel Aviv’s Defense Ministry HQ

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to welcome the Sabbath in the Kirya, the Defense Ministry’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, where he is holding meetings throughout the day. In fact, Netanyahu has been spending most of his time there since the Gaza campaign started, “in order not to trouble the officers” stationed there who regularly update him on the situation, the official says.

Last Friday night, the prime minister also stayed late in Tel Aviv before returning to his official residence in Jerusalem, making Kiddush (the traditional Shabbat benediction) together with soldiers at the Kirya. They were joined by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

This Friday afternoon and evening, Netanyahu is scheduled to conduct several telephone conversations with world leaders to discuss Israel’s perspective on the current situation in Gaza.

Furthermore, an additional meeting is planned between all Israeli government bodies dealing with hasbara, or public diplomacy, to “ensure that our message is being heard in Israel and the world,” the official says.

Earlier on Friday, Netanyahu said that he had spoken to many world leaders even before Operation Protective Edge commenced. “I explained to them the impossible situation the State of Israel was facing and our need to defend our people. Since then, through constant, methodical diplomatic and media activity, we have been creating the international space – which is not self-evident – so that we can take systematic and strong action against this murderous terrorist organization and its terrorist partners.”

The prime minister on Friday also spoke with the heads of the opposition parties in the Knesset, updating them on details of Operation Protective Edge, the official said. “The operation’s objective was and remains restoring calm to Israel’s cities for a long time, and a significant hit against terror infrastructure in Gaza. The IDF will be given the time and the resources needed to meet these goals,” the official says, adding that both the military and the diplomatic ways to achieve the campaign’s goals are being considered.

— Raphael Ahren