Jewish Home chairman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett is attacking Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman over the security situation on the Gaza border and the continued terror attacks against the security forces in the area. "In the past few days we have witnessed the dangerous consequences of the Defense Minister's policy of restraint and weakness vis-a-vis the Gaza Strip - more restraint, more terror,” said Bennett. “The incendiary kites and balloons continue to threaten the residents of the Gaza envelope, the disturbances on the fence are escalating, and Palestinians are infiltrating IDF positions without fear. This is not the way to conduct a security policy, this is a failed policy. When these incidents started I presented an organized plan for dealing with the Gaza Strip based on a clear principle: Restraint would lead to escalation. And that’s what happened,” he continued. "The current situation is a direct result of Liberman's policy vis-à-vis the Gaza Strip. Under the cover of 'pragmatism' and 'responsibility', Liberman left the security of the residents of the south to the discretion of Hamas. The time has come to tell the truth: The Liberman-Hamas agreements have collapsed,” charged Bennett. Bennett, a member of the political-security cabinet, continued, "This is not the security policy that the public expects to see from a right-wing government. The right-wing voters expect to see a tough hand and zero tolerance for dangerous Palestinian terror. This situation must be stopped. I intend to bring the matter up for discussion at the next cabinet meeting, immediately after the holidays." Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu party said in response: "On Friday, seven Palestinian rioters were killed, more than 500 were injured, and no Israeli even suffered a scratch as a result of a determined and powerful policy that proved itself.” "The Education Minister's repeated attacks on the Defense Minister are apparently indicative of his hysteria and jealousy. It would be for him to focus on his failures in the educational system and not interfere with things that require experience, responsibility and discretion.” "Minister Bennett is a full partner in the decisions of the cabinet, and even when he bothered to show up to the discussions on the Gaza issue, we do not recall him ever opposing the policy of the cabinet," said the statement. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said on Friday that a mob of 20,000 people, throwing bombs and grenades, took part in the Hamas-led riots along the border fence. "Hamas continues to carry out acts of terror along the Gaza Strip, cynically exploiting Gazans and endangering children who are sent to the fence as a cover for terrorist activities. Hamas is responsible for directing the violent disturbances and for their consequences. The IDF is prepared to act in the face of similar incidents and attempts to carry out terrorist activities will be met with a severe response,” the statement said. On Friday evening, IDF aircraft carried out an attack in northern Gaza in response to a number of grenades and explosive devices that were thrown at Israeli forces during violent disturbances along the security fence. The so-called “March of the Return” border riots have been ongoing every Friday since March 30, but in recent days have become more frequent. Hamas last week called for similar protest marches in Judea and Samaria as well.
