Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane asked Minister Uzi Landau of the Likud: "We hear that IDF forces are deployed outside northern Gaza, Prime Minister Sharon said today that Ashkelon will *not* become another front, and the police are dealing with 32 different terrorist warnings. So what's holding up the attack in Gaza?"
Landau, who served in the previous government as Public Security Minister, explained blankly that the army is coordinated with the government, and that their actions are timed appropriately with the developments on the ground. He then continued more animatedly: "The targeted killings are not sufficient. They should be carried out at an increasingly faster rate. I feel that the period since the Road Map [at the beginning of June] during which we did not take preventative action, allowed them to regroup and rearm, and has hurt us greatly. We have learned this lesson several times already: We cannot stop our fight against terrorism even for a second."
Asked about the Orr Commission investigating the Arab riots of October 2000, which is due to release its findings tomorrow, Landau had much to say:
"First of all, it was born in sin. It was decided upon by then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak simply because he wanted support from the Arab sector, no matter what the cost to Israel. One of the damages was a knife in the back of the police. We had just begun a new war against the Palestinians [in the Oslo War], and the police were the only body to stand up and block the anarchy that faced us when some Arabs staged a rebellion. The formation of this committee was a way of pulling out the carpet from under the police, whose job it is to defend all of us. If there were individuals who acted against regulations, they must be dealt with in the normal manner - giving them all the benefits of the legal system...
"In addition, it's unheard of for one body to both investigate, prosecute (by sending warning letters), and to pass judgment. It's totally unreasonable... Those who will be cited as 'guilty' will not be able to appeal, and even though the committee can only make recommendations, people are liable to lose their jobs - in a totally unfair procedure...
"The incitement in the Arab public is what should be investigated, and in fact the committee's conclusions on this matter must be read carefully and possibly adopted."
Kahane then said, "There are those who claim that if it would have been violent Jewish riots, it would not have ended with 13 dead..."
"I'll say just this," Minister Landau responded. "The difference I make is not between Jews and Arabs, but between normal demonstrations against various perceived injustices and those that come out totally against the state. In this case, they cooperated with the enemy that was killing IDF soldiers, they were storming Jewish communities while crying out, 'Slaughter the Jews!' - and they did not just block roads, but endangered Jewish drivers in the process. One of the first victims of the Oslo War, in fact, was killed by rocks thrown by an Israeli-Arab during these riots - in cooperation with the enemy."
Landau, who served in the previous government as Public Security Minister, explained blankly that the army is coordinated with the government, and that their actions are timed appropriately with the developments on the ground. He then continued more animatedly: "The targeted killings are not sufficient. They should be carried out at an increasingly faster rate. I feel that the period since the Road Map [at the beginning of June] during which we did not take preventative action, allowed them to regroup and rearm, and has hurt us greatly. We have learned this lesson several times already: We cannot stop our fight against terrorism even for a second."
Asked about the Orr Commission investigating the Arab riots of October 2000, which is due to release its findings tomorrow, Landau had much to say:
"First of all, it was born in sin. It was decided upon by then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak simply because he wanted support from the Arab sector, no matter what the cost to Israel. One of the damages was a knife in the back of the police. We had just begun a new war against the Palestinians [in the Oslo War], and the police were the only body to stand up and block the anarchy that faced us when some Arabs staged a rebellion. The formation of this committee was a way of pulling out the carpet from under the police, whose job it is to defend all of us. If there were individuals who acted against regulations, they must be dealt with in the normal manner - giving them all the benefits of the legal system...
"In addition, it's unheard of for one body to both investigate, prosecute (by sending warning letters), and to pass judgment. It's totally unreasonable... Those who will be cited as 'guilty' will not be able to appeal, and even though the committee can only make recommendations, people are liable to lose their jobs - in a totally unfair procedure...
"The incitement in the Arab public is what should be investigated, and in fact the committee's conclusions on this matter must be read carefully and possibly adopted."
Kahane then said, "There are those who claim that if it would have been violent Jewish riots, it would not have ended with 13 dead..."
"I'll say just this," Minister Landau responded. "The difference I make is not between Jews and Arabs, but between normal demonstrations against various perceived injustices and those that come out totally against the state. In this case, they cooperated with the enemy that was killing IDF soldiers, they were storming Jewish communities while crying out, 'Slaughter the Jews!' - and they did not just block roads, but endangered Jewish drivers in the process. One of the first victims of the Oslo War, in fact, was killed by rocks thrown by an Israeli-Arab during these riots - in cooperation with the enemy."