Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz is considering withdrawing the IDF from Bethlehem in honor of the approaching Christian holiday season. Such a move would be made, according to disclaimers, only if there is a reduction in warnings of impending attacks emanating from the city. The IDF most recently entered Bethlehem after the Jerusalem bus bombing of November 21 in which 11 people were killed. The human bomb in that attack was an Arab Bethlehemite.
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) said today that the mere thought of a withdrawal from Bethlehem fills him with horror:
"As a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, I heard the Central Commander speak recently, after the murder of the Brigade Commander [Col. Dror Weinberg] and 11 others in Hevron, and we asked him about Bethlehem. He told us that it was a very difficult situation there - and a couple of days later we had this attack [in Jerusalem]. Whoever dares to withdraw our forces from Bethlehem will be personally responsible for what happens there."
IDF forces have caught dozens of wanted terrorists since they entered the town nine days ago, including nine would-be suicide terrorists.
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) said today that the mere thought of a withdrawal from Bethlehem fills him with horror:
"As a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, I heard the Central Commander speak recently, after the murder of the Brigade Commander [Col. Dror Weinberg] and 11 others in Hevron, and we asked him about Bethlehem. He told us that it was a very difficult situation there - and a couple of days later we had this attack [in Jerusalem]. Whoever dares to withdraw our forces from Bethlehem will be personally responsible for what happens there."
IDF forces have caught dozens of wanted terrorists since they entered the town nine days ago, including nine would-be suicide terrorists.