Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich gave an interview to Israel National News on Tuesday, hours before the murderous attack near Eli, in which he discussed how Israel is dealing with the security escalation and said that he, too, is asking why a real military operation is not being carried out to stop the security escalation in Judea and Samaria.
Smotrich said that there are a variety of considerations that he is unable and unwilling to elaborate on publicly, partly so as not to provide the enemy with information about Israel's intentions.At the same time, he stated that "this saga will not continue much longer".
"We cannot afford to have entire areas without governance, where dangerous nests of terrorism develop that harm IDF soldiers and endanger the residents, and it is very close to reaching other areas in Israel," said Minister Smotrich, who recounted his conversations on these issues with both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense. In his assessment, "We are very close to a very significant action."
"We are seeing processes of ‘Lebanonization’ in Jenin and Shechem and not only there. This is not a situation that can be allowed under any circumstances. It is not a process that can be allowed to expand and then everything becomes much more complex," said the Minister, who is convinced that at the end of the day there will be no escape from an operation that eliminate the centers of terrorism.
At the same time, Minister Smotrich pointed out that Operation Shield and Arrow demonstrated the significant capabilities of the IDF and the government, which changed its policy with boldness and professionalism. This can also be seen in the damage that was inflicted on the Islamic Jihad, even if the problem of Gaza still exists.
"Even in Judea and Samaria, the number of deaths among the terrorists is unprecedented, it is a number that we have not seen under any previous government. I agree that it is not enough and we need to dry up the swamp. We need to support the soldiers and the commanders, but we need much more than that. My demand is that this be treated with the utmost seriousness," he said.
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