Education Minister Naftali Bennett, a member of the political-security cabinet, rejects criticism against him for saying that the IDF should not apologize for terrorist deaths in the demolished terror tunnel that penetrated Israeli territory in the Gaza vicinity.
Bennett had said in response to the demolition that "it is utterly wrong to apologize for liquidation of terrorists". Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman chastised Bennett and accused him of "attacking" the IDF top brass.
Wednesday morning, Minister Bennett responded to his critics saying: "Thanks to me the IDF Spokesman clarified his remarks.Since yesterday I've been attacked by politicians but I stand behind my words. From the time I enlisted in Sayeret Matkal (an elite commando unit, ed.) I never clarified to the enemy that we didn't intend to kill him."
The IDF clarified that the spokesman was answering a direct question as to whether the IDF had planned to kill terrorists in the operation as well as destroying the tunnel, making the answer given less apologetic. Still, there were remarks in the media to the effect that he showed no hint of satisfaction in the fact that the killed terrorists were an unintentional result.
In an interview with Army Radio, the Jewish Home Chairman added, "I love the IDF very much and I commanded many operations, unlike other ministers.They tried to shut my mouth during Protective Edge but I insisted and we liquidated the tunnels."
Bennett clarified that the terrorist organizations do not need to know Israel's intentions."Our enemies don't need to know what we meant, but we need to know that whoever harms the Israelis is taking his life in his hands.What the IDF said was not a message enhancing deterrence.We must make it clear that we are not apologizing for liquidation of terrorists."
"Terrorists shouldn't hear what we did and did not intend to do; terrorists should die," Bennett said. "It's so simple that I'm surprised that I have to explain it."