Defense Minister Ehud Barak called Monday night for a change in the legal system that would allow Israel to destroy terrorists' houses soon after each attack. “We need immediate action in the legal system to drastically shorten the time required, in order to allow security personnel to destroy the terrorist's house soon after the attack and thus deter potential terrorists,” he said.
Barak spoke shortly after an Arab resident of eastern Jerusalem rammed his car into a group of soldiers near the Old City, wounding 19. Three other Arab residents of eastern Jerusalem carried out attacks in the city earlier in the year, killing 11 and wounding dozens. The terrorists were killed, but their houses have not been destroyed due to lengthy legal battles over the issue.