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PM Netanyahu’s Statement to the Foreign Press


Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, this afternoon, Thursday Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5773, issued the following statement to the foreign press:

“In recent days and weeks, Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza have made normal life impossible for over one million Israelis. No government would tolerate a situation where nearly a fifth of its people live under a constant barrage of rockets and missile fire, and Israel will not tolerate this situation. This is why my government has instructed the Israeli Defense Forces to conduct surgical strikes against the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. And this is why Israel will continue to take whatever action is necessary to defend our people.

I want to remind you that seven years ago, Israel withdrew from every square inch of Gaza. Now Hamas, they took over the areas we vacated. What did it do? Rather than build a better future for the residents of Gaza, the Hamas leadership, backed by Iran, turned Gaza into a terrorist stronghold. They fired thousand of rockets at our cities, at our towns, at our civilians, at our children. They’ve smuggled thousands of rockets and missiles into Gaza, and they deliberately place these rockets and missiles in civilian areas: in homes, in schools, near hospitals. This year alone, the fired over one thousand rockets and missiles at Israel, included close to 200 rockets in the last 24 hours.

I’m stressing this because it’s important to understand one simple point. There is no moral symmetry; there is no moral equivalence, between Israel and the terrorist organizations in Gaza. The terrorists are committing a double war crime. They fire at Israeli civilians, and they hide behind Palestinian civilians. And by contrast, Israel takes every measure to avoid civilian casualties. I saw today a picture of a bleeding Israeli baby. This picture says it all: Hamas deliberately targets our children, and they deliberately place their rockets next to their children. Despite this reality, and it’s a very difficult reality, Israel will continue to do everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties.

I have to say that from my talks with world leaders, I have the clear understanding that they have a clear understanding of this. Yesterday I spoke to President Obama and I briefed him on Israel’s operations. I want to express my appreciation once again to President Obama for his unequivocal clear sided support for Israel’s right to defend itself. I also want to express my appreciation to the other world leaders I’ve had a chance to speak to in the last 24 hours: to President Hollande of France, to UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon, to EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton and to Quartet representative Tony Blair. I want to thank them for their understanding of Israel’s need to defend itself, and Israel’s right to defend itself.

In the past 24 hours Israel has made it clear that it will not tolerate rocket and missile attacks on its civilians. I hope that Hamas and the other terror organizations in Gaza got the message. If not, Israel is prepared to take whatever action is necessary to defend our people.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)



3 Responses

  1. Netanyahu: “No government would tolerate a situation where nearly a fifth of its people live under a constant barrage of rockets and missile fire.” I disagree with him on that one point. President Obama would tolerate such a situation, and then when the state takes measures to defend itself the Attorney General will take that state to court. Arizona is the prime example. Which is to say that Netanyahu’s principles in favor of defending Israel are correct, but there are leaders who would let their people languish in danger to protect their political and social agenda.

  2. PBT
    um, laws are a lot different than rockets. I am extremely anti Obama, but if the US had rockets launched at them, obama would order that the attackers would be annialated. Lets not turn this political, just daven. JUST DAVEN, KEEP DAVENING!

  3. I dislike wanabe Ayatollah Obummer with heated passion but the comments should not be about America or its leader.
    We all, every Jew around the world, should now be in full support of our elected leader, Mr. Netanyahu. Israel has the talent and tools to defeat the aggressors. Support our government and our leader to your fullest extent and allow him to resolve the matter, no matter what it takes.
    Israel must and will survive. Like dvbmd above write, daven for a positive outcome. Negative talk about Mr. Netanyahu and our beloved Israel will only add fuel to the fire for the anti-Israel bigots.

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