Former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) said this morning that since there will never be a situation in which all Arab terrorist organizations agree to a full cease-fire, Israel must "change its approach" and enter into immediate negotiations with the PA, even as terrorism continues. He also said that the "security fence" must be completed as fast as possible.
Tourism Minister Benny Elon (National Union), interviewed next on Israel Radio, took a different approach, the bottom line of which was that Israel must destroy the Palestinian Authority. "The only way to deal with terror," Elon said, "is to uproot it at its source, and that source is, today, the PA. This band of thugs and murderers has received world-wide recognition as the legitimate leadership of a future Palestinian state, G-d forbid - and they have achieved this by spilling gallons of Jewish blood - over 1,100 Jews have been murdered since Oslo was signed... The PA, along with its top leadership, must be erased from the map." Elon also said that fences are useless, as terrorists will always find ways around them, and that the expulsion of Arafat would not help and would probably be damaging to Israel.
Housing Minister Effie Eitam of the National Religious Party similarly said that if Israel does not strike a telling blow against the Palestinian Authority, his party will strongly consider leaving the government.
Tourism Minister Benny Elon (National Union), interviewed next on Israel Radio, took a different approach, the bottom line of which was that Israel must destroy the Palestinian Authority. "The only way to deal with terror," Elon said, "is to uproot it at its source, and that source is, today, the PA. This band of thugs and murderers has received world-wide recognition as the legitimate leadership of a future Palestinian state, G-d forbid - and they have achieved this by spilling gallons of Jewish blood - over 1,100 Jews have been murdered since Oslo was signed... The PA, along with its top leadership, must be erased from the map." Elon also said that fences are useless, as terrorists will always find ways around them, and that the expulsion of Arafat would not help and would probably be damaging to Israel.
Housing Minister Effie Eitam of the National Religious Party similarly said that if Israel does not strike a telling blow against the Palestinian Authority, his party will strongly consider leaving the government.