Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Sunday commented for the first time on the assassination of Hamas commander Mazen Fukha more than a week ago, and denied Israeli responsibility.
Ismail Haniya, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, on Saturday said that his organization’s security apparatus is searching relentlessly for “the criminal who killed Mazen Fukha,” promising that “the criminal and his operators will not escape punishment.”
Speaking during a tour of Sderot near the Gaza border, Liberman was asked about the Fukha assassination and the fact that Hamas has been pinning the blame for it on Israel. He responded, “Hamas is known for their internal executions, so let Hamas look within for those responsible.”
“All I can say,” Liberian added, “is that we’re not looking for adventures, we conduct our security responsibly and determinedly, and do what we must. There’s no reason to change our policy and get into a different state of m ind.”
Speaking at the opening of a new Elbit plant in Arad, also in southern Israel, the Defense Minister said, “It doesn’t matter what Hamas is saying, but what the Jews are doing. Hamas is known as a most extremist organization. I wouldn’t buy their statements nor anything else. Let them do what they wish and we’ll be doing what we wish.”