Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, leader of the left-wing Shinui party, said that today's attacks "have not changed my mind even one iota regarding the Road Map." He says that Israel must continue to try to implement this process.
Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman (National Union): "There never was a hudna; it was only a ceasefire so that the terrorists could prepare for the next stage of their terror attacks..." Confirmation of these efforts comes from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization itself. The ZOA reports that Mohammed al-Hindi, leader of the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, told the Scottish newspaper The Scotsman two days ago, "It is natural that we strengthen ourselves during hudna [the 'cease-fire']... It is natural that the Palestinians, Fatah, the Islamic Jihad, Hamas, be ready to defend their people in the coming stages."
Minister Uzi Landau (Likud): "The terrorists sense our hesitation regarding the wall, the dismantling of the terror infrastructures, and our reaction to Hizbullah, and they see this as weakness and an invitation to terrorism."
Minister Gideon Ezra (Likud) says that the attack in Ariel proves that the partition fence must be erected to the east of Ariel, thus that Ariel is included "within" it - and even though this will mean that a substantial area of the Shomron will also have to be included. The United States is adamantly against such a scenario. Labor MK Ophir Pines says that it is clear that Ariel cannot be included within the fence, "because it will mean the violation of Israel's understandings with the entire world, and it will cause the wall not to be built at all."
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz called off his vacation in Europe in light of the attacks.
Tourism Minister Benny Elon (National Union) says that the government lacks the courage to liquidate the terrorist infrastructures. "The hudna has cost us dearly," Elon said.
Housing Minister Effie Eitam (National Religious Party), an IDF Brig.-Gen. in reserves, said that Israel must begin dealing with its own security and not rely on the PA to take action against terrorists.
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) said that today's attacks are "just the introduction to a large bloodbath that is awaiting Israel the day after the hudna collapses."
Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On blamed Israel's government for its recent operation targeting Hamas terrorists in Shechem, saying that under these circumstances, we cannot expect terror organizations to do anything but strike back at us. Shinui MK Chemi Doron was very critical of this point of view, "Unfortunately, there are some MKs who think that no matter what happens, it's Israel's fault. It doesn't matter what actually happened, it will always be Israel's fault. I think we must realize that we are talking about Israel's continued existence, and I don't think that statements of that nature will help stop terrorism. The opposite is true..."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) says that this is the terrorists' way of thanking Israel for what was to be today's release of some 70 Palestinian prisoners. They do not include terrorists, but rather PA Arabs who committed property crimes or who had crossed illegally into pre-'67 Israel. In any event, the release of the 70 has been called off - probably temporarily - in light of today's terror attacks.
Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman (National Union): "There never was a hudna; it was only a ceasefire so that the terrorists could prepare for the next stage of their terror attacks..." Confirmation of these efforts comes from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization itself. The ZOA reports that Mohammed al-Hindi, leader of the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, told the Scottish newspaper The Scotsman two days ago, "It is natural that we strengthen ourselves during hudna [the 'cease-fire']... It is natural that the Palestinians, Fatah, the Islamic Jihad, Hamas, be ready to defend their people in the coming stages."
Minister Uzi Landau (Likud): "The terrorists sense our hesitation regarding the wall, the dismantling of the terror infrastructures, and our reaction to Hizbullah, and they see this as weakness and an invitation to terrorism."
Minister Gideon Ezra (Likud) says that the attack in Ariel proves that the partition fence must be erected to the east of Ariel, thus that Ariel is included "within" it - and even though this will mean that a substantial area of the Shomron will also have to be included. The United States is adamantly against such a scenario. Labor MK Ophir Pines says that it is clear that Ariel cannot be included within the fence, "because it will mean the violation of Israel's understandings with the entire world, and it will cause the wall not to be built at all."
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz called off his vacation in Europe in light of the attacks.
Tourism Minister Benny Elon (National Union) says that the government lacks the courage to liquidate the terrorist infrastructures. "The hudna has cost us dearly," Elon said.
Housing Minister Effie Eitam (National Religious Party), an IDF Brig.-Gen. in reserves, said that Israel must begin dealing with its own security and not rely on the PA to take action against terrorists.
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) said that today's attacks are "just the introduction to a large bloodbath that is awaiting Israel the day after the hudna collapses."
Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On blamed Israel's government for its recent operation targeting Hamas terrorists in Shechem, saying that under these circumstances, we cannot expect terror organizations to do anything but strike back at us. Shinui MK Chemi Doron was very critical of this point of view, "Unfortunately, there are some MKs who think that no matter what happens, it's Israel's fault. It doesn't matter what actually happened, it will always be Israel's fault. I think we must realize that we are talking about Israel's continued existence, and I don't think that statements of that nature will help stop terrorism. The opposite is true..."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) says that this is the terrorists' way of thanking Israel for what was to be today's release of some 70 Palestinian prisoners. They do not include terrorists, but rather PA Arabs who committed property crimes or who had crossed illegally into pre-'67 Israel. In any event, the release of the 70 has been called off - probably temporarily - in light of today's terror attacks.