According to the IDF’s Commander of Forces In Judea & Samaria, Brigadier-General Benny Gantz, the terrorists most likely took advantage of the recent lifting of the closure and escaped via the southern entrance of Bethlehem, passing by the PA paramilitary police checkpoint. The city has once again been closed down in response to the killing of an Israeli motorist early Monday morning.
Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi, who also sits on the Security Cabinet, commented on this morning\'s terrorist attack: \"This is a real lesson for the Sharon government. They thought that by easing up restrictions, which was perhaps also needed for Sharon\'s visit to the U.S, it would lead to understanding on the other side. After 100 years of neighborly relations with the Arabs, we must know that concessions and confidence building measures are not understood by them as we think they are. The Arabs understand them as a sign of weakness and fear. The Arabs don\'t realize that on our side there is a cabinet, a government, a press, and public leaders all who yearn for peace - and therefore there is a readiness to make concessions for peace. They don\'t think in those terms. Yet we keep repeating the same scheme. Each concession, each gesture, is viewed by them as a sign of Jewish weakness.\"
Foreign Minister and acting Prime Minister Shimon Peres said, \"The entire Israeli people feel the pain of this awful murder. The Palestinian Authority must understand that the only chance of reaching a peace settlement is through dialogue and not through shooting and terrorism.\"
Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi, who also sits on the Security Cabinet, commented on this morning\'s terrorist attack: \"This is a real lesson for the Sharon government. They thought that by easing up restrictions, which was perhaps also needed for Sharon\'s visit to the U.S, it would lead to understanding on the other side. After 100 years of neighborly relations with the Arabs, we must know that concessions and confidence building measures are not understood by them as we think they are. The Arabs understand them as a sign of weakness and fear. The Arabs don\'t realize that on our side there is a cabinet, a government, a press, and public leaders all who yearn for peace - and therefore there is a readiness to make concessions for peace. They don\'t think in those terms. Yet we keep repeating the same scheme. Each concession, each gesture, is viewed by them as a sign of Jewish weakness.\"
Foreign Minister and acting Prime Minister Shimon Peres said, \"The entire Israeli people feel the pain of this awful murder. The Palestinian Authority must understand that the only chance of reaching a peace settlement is through dialogue and not through shooting and terrorism.\"