Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was in the northern Israeli city of Afula Tuesday afternoon, for the signing of a landmark price-for-tenant housing agreement.
The PM used the occasion to address the ongoing wave of Arab terrorist sweeping Israel, which has struck the northern city as well.
Israel is located in "a stormy region," Netanyahu said. "Radical Islam is all around us and is also extending its arms into our midst."
"At the moment, we are fighting against a wave of terrorism. First it was missiles and now it is knives," he continued, highlighting the evolution in terror tactics over time.
"We overcame the former wave; we will also overcome this one," he declared, but urged Israelis to be patient.
"This requires much patience. We have increased our forces and are investing in various means. While we do not shrink from the steps necessary to defeat this terrorism, we know that in the end we rely on willpower, the iron willpower of our people who have been here over the past 100 years, which overcomes all obstacles and is developing the country in a way that inspires the world."
Turning to the purpose of his visit, Netanyahu hailed the new price-for-tenant program, part of the government's attempts to bring down the prohibitive housing prices in Israel.
"We would like to point out here the beginning of a very wide-ranging action that we are in the midst of," he said. "We are building tens of thousands of residential units around the country under the 'price-for-tenant' program.
"In this program, we are also lowering prices, of course for residents. We are also giving general momentum to development and the lowering of housing prices through many varied plans and I am pleased with this momentum led by the Finance Minister, the Housing Minister and myself.
"We are making a genuine effort both to expand the supply of apartments around the country and to reduce the gaps in prices; this is genuine and it is happening before our eyes.
"The north and the south must be genuine parts of the State of Israel. The strength, momentum and energy must all go there; this is a true vision."