Report: ‘Significant differences’ between PM, IDF on how to tackle terror wave

Channel 12 news reports on “significant differences” between Prime Minister Bennett and security officials during consultations on the terror wave yesterday.

According to the network, the IDF and Shin Bet urged leaders to maintain a separation between the various fronts, and not escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip due to attacks in Israel and the West Bank.

The organizations suggested focusing mainly on reducing the religious extremism at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

IDF chief Aviv Kohavi reportedly stressed that Hamas’s Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar is not the one leading the wave of attacks, while the Shin Bet acknowledged that he has a certain amount of influence on it, though he is not driving it.

Meanwhile, the report says, Bennett disagreed with this strategy — he believes Sinwar must pay a price for the incitement and for his encouragement of terror attacks. Bennett told the security chiefs to give him a range of options for the West Bank and Jerusalem, but also for Gaza, according to the network.

Channel 12 says the Prime Minister’s Office and security organizations refused to comment.