Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu levelled a warning, in which he underlined Israel’s determination to assure the security of its citizens, while vowing to exert a very heavy price from any element that seeks to harm them. In his opening remarks at a weekly cabinet meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister further stressed that the equation is simple: whoever tries to hurt the Jewish state will face the wrath of Israel’s military establishment. “From here I would like to deliver a message to anyone who tries to attack our citizens. The equation is simple: Whoever tries to hurt us – we will hurt them. Israel will not tolerate any attempt to attack us. We will take determined action in order to prevent this. It must be understood – it is impossible to attack us without paying a very heavy price,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also took the opportunity to once again condemn Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for what the Israeli Prime Minister referred to as “outrageous, anti-American remarks.” He said that Washington’s approach toward the Palestinians, in which they demand an end to the Palestinian leadership’s support, financing and encouragement of terrorism, as well as the recognition of Israel’s right to exist as the nation state of the Jewish people, socked the Palestinian leadership. “Something is happening here that has not happened in decades, perhaps it never happened since the Palestinian Authority was established. The American administration has stopped spoiling the Palestinians. It is demanding from them basic things that should have been demanded a long time ago: Recognize the State of Israel’s right to exist, with the State of Israel being the national state of the Jewish people, stop supporting terrorism, and stop financing and encouraging terrorism. The Palestinians are in shock and like a spoiled child who has been spoiled for years, they are suddenly being told: ‘Enough, no more.’ And they are in shock and being in shock they are losing their senses and their truth is coming to light: They are not interested in dialogue and they are refusing to make peace,” Netanyahu said.
During President Mahmoud Abbas’ address at a meeting of the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah, he condemned the Trump Administration for “legitimizing settlements,” which are built on lands the Palestinians demand for their future state under any final status agreement. The Palestinian leader said that the American position was adopted by senior Administration officials, including the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, whom he referred to as “a son of a dog.” The harsh words used by President Abbas has angered Washington, with Trump’s Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt asserting that it was time for the Palestinian leader to choose between hateful rhetoric and efforts to improve the quality of life of his people.