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

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insisted that the IDF and Israeli government were tackling terror head-on Monday, speaking in the wake of a spike in terror attacks against Israelis. 

"I wish to send condolences to the family of Hadar Buchris of blessed memory, who was murdered here yesterday, as well as the Don family and to the families of [other] victims," he stated, while touring the Gush Etzion Brigade base at Gush Etzion junction.

Netanyahu visited with Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Yair Golan, commander of Central Command, Gen. Roni Numa, commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, Brigadier General Lior Carmeli and commander of the Etzion Brigade, Roman Gofner.

The prime minister then addressed the tense security situation. 

“First of all, on the offensive end, we’re entering everywhere," Netanyahu began. "We’re entering [Palestinian Authority] villages, we’re entering towns, we’re entering homes, and conducting widespread arrests."

"There are no restrictions on the activities of the IDF and the security forces; on the contrary – there’s full support, and this is important," he continued. "There are no limits to our offensive." 

Netanyahu then addressed widespread criticism that the IDF has not engaged in a full-fledged operation, such as Operation Defensive Shield, which toppled the Second Intifada in 2002. 

"You have to understand that, contrary to the situation with Defensive Shield, where there were headquarters, there were strongholds, there were thousands of armed men - and what is the situation today?" he asked. "Defensive Shield brought us the freedom of action that exists now, and we use it every night, every day to take action against terror cells or programs, against terrorists, against weapons caches, and the result of course is what we knew then - hundreds of deaths per year as a result of terrorists armed with explosive belts and other weapons - and that we don't have, are are doing everything to combat that." 

“We need to carry out additional actions to counter what [threats] do exist," he continued.

Netanyahu then proposed three solutions: "to check any Palestinian vehicle that enters our main roads, by carrying out inspections along roads leading to main roads"; to build bypass roads to go around dangerous junctions, such as the Gush Etzion junction; and to deny work permits for families whose members have been involved in terror attacks against Israelis. 

“A family knows that it has in its midst someone who is extreme or someone liable to attack, and a family like that does not have the right to work in Israel,” Netanyahu declared. 

Ultimately, however, “I think that the most important means at our disposal are perseverance, bravery and a resolve to fight this terrorism as we have fought its various manifestations over the past century," he said. "Those we have in abundance, and with them we will win this time as well.”