Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Wednesday with municipal leaders from Judea and Samaria at the IDF Central Command Headquarters, together with the members of the War Cabinet and the Directors of the Shin Bet and the National Security Council.
During the meeting, Netanyahu discussed the continued IDF ground operation in the Gaza Strip and stated that it is progressing as planned. "I wish to praise the IDF's ground operation in the Gaza Strip; it is progressing well and achieving good results. I wish to put aside all empty rumors that we're hearing and repeat one clear thing: there will not be a ceasefire without the return of our hostages. Anything else is fake."
He added: "I am here with the War Cabinet, with the council heads from Judea and Samaria, and of course with the Central Command. We come here with three goals: the first goal is to increase the elimination of terror; it is being done with a strong hand. I wish to praise the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the Israel Police Force for very impressive work in this field. The second goal is to prevent an escalation in Judea and Samaria and from the region becoming a second front. This, of course, also entails preparation for massive terror attacks both in Judea and Samaria and from Judea and Samaria. The third objective is the handful of extremists who do not represent those who are sitting here, who are causing great damage to the State of Israel."
The Prime Minister emphasized that "Judea and Samaria's residents make up a population of half a million loyal citizens, who follow the law and are hard working. Now, many of them are also in active or reserve duty on the front lines in Gaza. These citizens contributed greatly to the State of Israel over the years and stood up against challenges that the citizens of Israel know how difficult they are. They always, always, kept their values - ethical values and top-of-the-line behavioral norms."
The Prime Minister said: "There is a tiny handful of people who do not represent this public, who take the law into their hands. We are not willing to tolerate it; we are not prepared to accept it; we will work against it in every manner. It causes heavy international damage to the State of Israel, and it does not represent the crowd here. I condemn it, and we will work against it, and I know I represent everyone sitting here: the heads of the communities in Judea and Samaria and the civilian public in Judea and Samaria.
The Prime Minister added: "I told President Biden that his accusations against the settlement movement are unfounded. There is a small extreme minority that doesn't come from the settlements, we condemn it and are dealing with it to the extent of the law."
Both the Prime Minister and the Shin Bet Director asked the municipal leaders to condemn the violence by the extremists in every way and during every interview.