Netanyahu with IDF officers (file)
Netanyahu with IDF officers (file)Amos Ben-Gershom

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is set to convene his cabinet Monday night to discuss the current security situation, after the series of terror attacks that roiled the country over the weekend.

In a speech prior to the meeting, Netanyahu said that Israelis could expect much tougher steps to be taken against terrorists than in the past.

Police are entering the center of Arab neighborhoods as never before,” said Netanyahu. “We will destroy terrorists' homes. We will allow security forces full freedom of activity against rock throwers and firebomb attackers. We need to take these steps in order to protect Israelis in cities, on the roads, and throughout the country.

We will not provide immunity to any rioter, inciter, or terrorist, not anywhere and under no conditions. Israel's security forces have no limits when it comes to defending Israelis. We will act against Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and the Islamic Movement, who are all the source of this incitement,” Netanyahu said.

"I would like to commend the ISA personnel who solved the terrible murder of the Henkins near Shechem," the Prime Minister added. They acted very quickly and also apprehended the murderers."

Political sources said that in his comments Netanyahu was responding to demands by members of his government – including numerous ministers – who feel that the country's response to terror attacks has been lacking.

On Sunday, Jewish Home MK Bezalel Smotrich said that unless Netanyahu did not step up activity against terror, he would drop out of the coalition – meaning that the Netanyahu government could fall, as it would no longer have a majority in the Knesset.

Smotrich laid out his position in a Facebook message directed at Netanyahu earlier Sunday. “The Jewish Home Party, of which I am a member, has made very clear and specific demands for security. We have demanded that you no longer prevent security forces from doing their job in fighting terrorism; that you allow building in all of Judea and Samaria, without any limitations; and that you return all the terrorists freed in the Gilad Shalit deal to prison.

Smotrich said that those conditions were the “minimum that needed to be done right now.” While he couldn't speak for the rest of his party, said Smotrich, “don't assume I am going to vote with your coalition on other issues if you do not intend to act appropriately,” he wrote.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said that “we are waging a bitter war against terror - and we will do so vigorously.” The “'moderates' of the Palestinian Authority and [our] alleged peace partner," the Prime Minister charged. "I am now on my way to Israel and when I arrive I will head immediately to the Kirya to meet with top security officials to adjudicate a harsh response to Palestinian Islamic terrorism.”

Rabbi Nehemia Lavi, 41, and Aharon Banita Bennett, 21, were both murdered as a result of Saturday’s terrorist attack. Bennett's wife, Adelle Banita, 22, and their two-year-old son were also injured. Later Saturday night, an Arab terrorist attempted to stab a Jewish youth in central Jerusalem.