Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman decided, following a security assessment meeting he held with the top brass of the IDF, to ease Israeli restrictions on the Gaza Strip. As part of his decision, Israel reopened this morning the Kerem Shalom border-crossing and expanded the fishing zone off the coast of the Palestinian enclave to a distance of nine nautical-miles. The Israeli top defense official stressed following his decision that the residents of the Gaza Strip must understand that ‘if the people in Israel will enjoy quiet and security, they too would enjoy it’ – while underscoring that “violence does not pay.” Commenting on the possibility of a long-term ceasefire arrangement, Minister Lieberman said that he was attentive to all proposals, but that it was the reality on the ground that would determine if an agreement would be reached.
The decision to ease restrictions on the Hamas-run territory came several days after Defense Minister Lieberman asserted, following an earlier security assessment in the Gaza periphery, that the question of the next round of violence with the Islamist groups in the Palestinian enclave is not a question of “if” but a question of “when” – indicating that a long-term ceasefire was only a temporary solution to the Islamist security threats, rather than a comprehensive resolution. “Since the start of the “march of return” Hamas sustained 168 casualties, 4348 wounded, dozens of terror installations were destroyed. The question of the next round (of violence) or the next conflagration, is not about ‘if’ but ‘when’. I am certain that we will do whatever is necessary and in the manner that is necessary. We manage (the situation) a responsible and powerful defense policy that does not take into account op-eds, media headlines or public opinion. We are prepared, we know what to do, and how to do it,” Israeli Defense MInister Avigdor Lieberman said.
While an Israeli official told TV7 that the decision by Defense Minister Lieberman received the full backing a cooperation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; several members of the Israeli security cabinet voiced their anger at the move – accusing the top Israeli defense official of “rewarding Hamas with a prize in return for 130 days of terror.” Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who heads the Jewish Home faction, termed Lieberman’s gestures to Hamas as “a mistake,” while vowing that his party’s ministers will vote against any agreement between Israel and Hamas. Minister Bennett further warned that ‘the temporary ceasefire would only enable the Gaza terror group to rearm and regroup for the next round of fighting with Israel and would turn Hamas into “Hezbollah 2.”’ In response to the criticism of the Defense Minister, Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu party issued a statement, saying ” As usual, Minister Bennett runs to the media with empty slogans which are nothing more that petty politics at the expense of the IDF and the security establishment,” while suggesting that Minister Bennett stick to his post’ responsibility, to deal with the “rising violence in (Israeli) schools.”