Netanyahu. Photo Courtesy of UN-Photo/Marco Castro
With the extended ceasefire between Israel and Hamas nearing it’s end, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was very clear that Hamas will not extort excessive concessions from Israel with the threat of more violence. Netanyahu, in comments to the Israeli Cabinet released by his office, said on Sunday, “If Hamas thinks that it can cover up its military loss with a diplomatic achievement, it is mistaken.” Hinting at the occasional attacks since major fighting ended over a week ago, Netanyahu said, “If Hamas thinks that continued sporadic firing will cause us to make concessions, it is mistaken. As long as quiet is not restored, Hamas will continue to take very harsh blows. If Hamas thinks that we cannot stand up to it over time, it is mistaken.” Hamas and its terrorist allies in Gaza started the latest war with Israel more than a month ago, firing thousands of rockets at Israel. However, the Israelis responded with force, hitting thousands of Gaza terror targets and destroying dozens of terror tunnels designed to help terrorists sneak into Israel. The tunnels had cost Gaza terrorists millions of dollars to construct.
“In the past month Hamas has taken a severe generic viagra w dapoxetine military blow,” said Netanyahu. “We destroyed its network of tunnels that it took years to dig. We intercepted the rockets that it had massed in order to carry out thousands of deadly strikes against the Israeli home front. And we foiled the terrorist attacks that it tried to perpetrate against Israeli civilians—by land, sea and air.”
With Israel and the Palestinians engaged in long-term ceasefire talks under the mediation of Egypt, Netanyahu made it clear they have their own minimum requirements for the negotiations. “From the first day, the Israeli delegation to Cairo has worked under clear instructions: Insist on the security needs of the State of Israel. Only if there is a clear response to our security needs will we agree to reach understandings.”
Netanyahu made it clear that if Hamas wants a test of endurance, Israel will be up to the task. “In the stormy and unstable Middle East in which we live, it is not enough that there be more strength, determination and patience are also necessary. Hamas knows that we are very strong but maybe it thinks that we do not have enough determination and patience, and here it is making a big mistake.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, August 17, 2014)