Netanyahu says troops are “completing the work”

August 3, 2014 Agencies
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“Hamas wants the residents of Gaza to suffer and be hurt and thinks that the world will blame Israel for their suffering. There are many people in the world who understand exactly what Hamas is, the same organization that, together with Qatar, assured US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon regarding a ceasefire. It misled both of them.” 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made the following statement at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv: 

“Operation Protective Edge (<http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Pages/Rise-in-rocket-fire-from-Gaza-3-Jul-2014.aspx>) is continuing. The IDF (<http://www.idfblog.com/>) is continuing to operate with full strength in order to complete the goals of the operation: The restoration of quiet and the restoration of security for a lengthy period for the citizens of Israel while inflicting significant damage on the terrorist infrastructures. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu        Photo: Henry Benjamin

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Photo: Henry Benjamin

At the same time, our forces are now completing the work of striking at and neutralizing the terrorist tunnels in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of tunnels have been neutralized so far. We are striking at the strategic network that Hamas has invested such great effort in over the years. These tunnels would have enabled Hamas to kidnap and murder civilians and IDF soldiers by launching simultaneous attacks from the many tunnels that penetrate our territory. 

So far the IDF has very significant achievements in the fighting. At the onset of the operation, our forces attacked and destroyed thousands of terrorist targets: Command centers, rocket arsenals and production facilities, launching areas, many hundreds of terrorists, etc. 

Our soldiers are showing extraordinary heroism. Their bravery has been shown in the IDF’s very impressive and daring operations. This has been a complex operation, which is being carried out in urban areas, in tunnels, with new kinds of munitions, amidst considerable friction with a civilian population. I am proud of our soldiers and commanders who are working splendidly in this dangerous campaign. They are fighting with dedication, determination and a sense of mission that is without peer. 

I share the pain of the bereaved families and I send them both my condolences and those of the nation. They sacrificed what is most dear to them. Their sons fell in order to defend our country and our home. My heart and the heart of the entire nation goes out to all of them. I talk to them and I know their pain. 

I would like to express support to the family of 2nd-Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was abducted yesterday. I understand the family; their words have touched my heart and I will speak with them later this evening. The State of Israel will continue to do its utmost to bring home its MIAs. 

Citizens of Israel, the resilience that you are showing enables all of us to conduct the campaign sagaciously and responsibly in order to achieve the goals of the operation. I thank you for the unity, especially at this time. 

Cooperation between me and the Defense Minister and the Chief-of-Staff is tight and enables us to precisely plan and carry out the campaign. At the start of the operation we promised that we would restore quiet for the citizens of Israel and we will continue to act until this goal is achieved. This will take as much time as may be necessary; forces will be used accordingly. 

US and European support of the need to demilitarize the terrorist organizations is an important achievement for the State of Israel. It will strengthen our demand to link the rehabilitation and development of the Gaza Strip with its demilitarization from rockets, tunnels, etc. We regret every civilian who is hit inadvertently. 

We are enlisting the international community to support this goal of linking the rehabilitation and development of Gaza to its demilitarization but no less important – this may surprise many, but not us – is the unique link which has been forged with the states of the region. This as well is a very important asset for the State of Israel. With the cessation of the fighting and the conclusion of the campaign, this will open new possibilities for us. 

At this time it is clear what is happening here. Hamas wants the residents of Gaza to suffer and be hurt and thinks that the world will blame Israel for their suffering. There are many people in the world who understand exactly what Hamas is, the same organization that, together with Qatar, assured US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon regarding a ceasefire. It misled both of them. 

I welcome the clear and sharp statements by US President Barack Obama (<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/08/01/press-conference-president>) and Secretary of State Kerry (<http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/08/230114.htm>), who placed the direct responsibility for violating the ceasefire on Hamas, and for President Obama’s remarks last night regarding Israel’s right to defend itself against rockets and tunnels. Similar voices have been heard from other important leaders around the world. 

But, unfortunately, there are other voices and to them I say: Terrorism has no borders. Today, it threatens the State of Israel. Tomorrow, it will threaten your countries. We are doing what we are doing in the face of this criminal aggression by the terrorist organizations against our citizens and soldiers, but what would you do? Will you stand alongside Israel, a democratic and moral state which is acting to defend its citizens or will you continue to stand opposed and take a forgiving stand in the face of a murderous terrorist organization that attacks our people and is brutal toward its own? 

Citizens of Israel, the IDF is acting and will continue to act until our mission is completed. After completing action the tunnels, the IDF will prepare for continued action, according to security needs and only according to security needs, until we achieve the goal of restoring quiet to you, citizens of Israel.” 

Comments

2 Responses to “Netanyahu says troops are “completing the work””
  1. Paul Winter says:

    I could not agree more with you Gil.

    Coming back from the rally, I listened to Yossi Klein HaLevi on SBS’s Shalom Australia program. He said that most Israelis are demanding a decisive campaign, because each and every action against the terrorist regime is harder. (He then went on to say that he could see no way to conclude the terror; a typical intellectual defeatist).

    With the overwhelming majority – some say 87% – in favour of continuing the battle, Netanyahu is clearly out of touch and out of his depth; he should also be out of office. The Israeli people and its IDF is a pride of lions led by jackals.

    The IDF is not a boy scout pack, nor is it on a social work mission. Enemy forces must be defeated and its leadership killed. What nonsense that Netanyahu and the IDF general staff can see no further ahead than war following war. If an enemy will not surrender you flatten everything and kill as many people who stand in your way. When a house hides a tunnel entrance, blow up the house and then check what remained of the tunnel. It worked in house to house fighting in Europe.

    And forget about building up Gaza. If they want militant Islam, let Allah feed them and supply them with electricity.

    Israel must cut off the water and the electricity and cut itself loose from the legal advisors. It must also close down the Israeli Christian hospital in Jerusalem that repays Jewish humanitarianism in allowing injured Gazans into Israel to be treated, by lying and vilifying Israel. This at a time when Christians in Iraq are facing persecution and death at the hands of the same savages who are terrorising Israel!

  2. Gil Solomon says:

    If after all that has happened, all Netanyahu can say is that Israel’s goals are: “The restoration of quiet and the restoration of security for a lengthy period for the citizens of Israel while inflicting significant damage on the terrorist infrastructures” then all I can say to this man is resign now for the good of the country. You are well past your use by date.
    A war time Prime Minister you are not.

    This war has to be won convincingly on Israel’s terms with the unconditional surrender of the enemy.
    No more warnings, no more ceasefires with that insane “Purity of Arms” doctrine shredded. This doctrine is only prolonging the war, endangering soldiers lives but letting wanted terrorists escape with their lives.

    The recent deaths of the two soldiers and the kidnapping of one are on this Prime Minister’s head. He should forget about John Kerry and Ban Ki-moon being misled over the ceasefire and admit he was misled and he is the one that counts.

    This is now total war whose aim should be the utter destruction of the enemy both Hamas AND the PA.

    Finally, will all Israeli politicians cease that endless pathetic mantra about “Israel having the right to defend itself”. Of course it does, but no other country utters this term. It appears to be nothing less than a pleading with the rest of the world to grant it permission to do so.

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