Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Israel’s defense establishment to coordinate its efforts to tighten security efforts in the Hebron district.
In his remarks at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that over the weekend, he held discussions with the defense minister, the public security minister and the IDF chief of staff.
“I instructed the security agencies to coordinate their efforts in the Hebron district, from which most or all of the attacks are originating,” Netanyahu said. “We are carrying out – inter alia – arrests and roadblocks there and are boosting our forces. We did this in Jerusalem from which most of the attacks had originated,” he noted.
“I would like to commend the security forces for their strong counter terrorist actions,” he continued, “including the apprehension of terrorists.
“We are facing terrorism by individuals – this is not terrorism by organizations, this is terrorism by individuals, occasionally with kitchen knives, who are incited mainly by social media,” he pointed out.
“It is very difficult to hermetically prevent the arrival of such knife-wielding, or other, terrorists to this or that place. Therefore, in addition to the actions that we are taking in the centers of terrorism themselves, in addition to the actions by the security forces, citizens must be on maximum alert,” he warned.
“I must say that we are showing such awareness, with considerable resourcefulness and courage, and this is deserving of all praise. We are still fighting and will continue to do so. This struggle has continued for nearly 100 years, but we will overcome this wave as well.”
Netanyahu also spoke about the international terror wave being perpetrated by Da’esh (ISIS), and how it has impacted the Jewish State.
“Last week, indictments were filed against Israeli citizens who were planning to join ISIS,” he added. “Also, I have asked the Attorney General to advance steps to revoke the citizenship of those who join ISIS. Whoever joins ISIS will not be an Israeli citizen. And if he leaves the borders of the state, he will not return.
“I think this lesson is becoming increasingly clear throughout the international arena and it is fitting that we lead this effort as well.”
