Chairman Yuval Shteinitz, a Likud MK, told Arutz-7's Ariel Kahane that Palestinian terrorism must be dealt with harshly, and not with temporary measures. "Israel will be making a grave mistake if it agrees to suffice with merely a 'prevention of shooting' and a temporary ceasefire in Gaza," Shteinitz said. "Israel must insist on an immediate disarming of the terror militias. Only a forcible move of this type will preclude once and for all the option of violence and will enable a diplomatic process."
Shteinitz was responding to optimistic reports in the Israeli media that Abu Mazen is "very close" to achieving an agreement with Hamas to call off terrorism, at least for now.
In the meanwhile, IDF Southern Region Operations Commander Maj.-Gen. Dan Har'el gave an order this morning to re-open the Gush Katif crossing to Arab traffic. The intersection had been closed "indefinitely" on Tuesday night, following the suicide terror attack that felled GSS agent Oded Sharon. Survived by his wife and three children aged 9, 7 and 2, Sharon's funeral is scheduled for today.