Member of Knesset Motti Yogev (Jewish Home) has responded to the escalation of the past few hours on the Gaza border by saying, "The arrangement [for calm] in the Gaza Strip can only take place if we eliminate the heads of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, while striving for civilian rule in the Gaza Strip and humanitarian aid."
The retired colonel noted, "For the past eight months Hamas has played around with balloons and firebombs, and Israel has restrained itself. Now is the time to respond strongly. It is our obligation to protect the communities bordering Gaza and the south."