Yesha Council leaders met with Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer this afternoon. He promised to deal with terrorism \"in a totally different manner than has been in force until now - although not in a one-shot deal.\" He emphasized that he has no interest in oppressing the Palestinian population, but only in separating between the population and the terrorists. Ben-Eliezer specified the Tunnels Highway between Gush Etzion and Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley Highway, and the Modiin Highway as routes on which he would make sure to improve security.
Maaleh Adumim Mayor and Yesha Council head Benny Kashriel spoke with Arutz-7 today before the meeting, and said:
\"We think that the encirclement of Arab villages is an important measure, but even more intense actions must be taken. For example, suicide terrorists who fear nothing from a personal point of view must be deterred in other ways, such as having their homes destroyed and their families exiled... The pressure on the Palestinians must be increased until they refuse to allow any terrorists to act from within their areas, until we are able to travel freely on the roads.\"
Kashriel was asked how he responds to arguments by Minister Matan Vilnai and others that these measures simply cause more Palestinians to join the ranks of the terrorists. He responded, \"It\'s very interesting that all those who did not succeed in containing the terrorism while in Barak\'s security cabinet, and who failed in all security matters, now have criticism of these new measures. Let them now give Sharon and others a chance to implement a different system…\"
Maaleh Adumim Mayor and Yesha Council head Benny Kashriel spoke with Arutz-7 today before the meeting, and said:
\"We think that the encirclement of Arab villages is an important measure, but even more intense actions must be taken. For example, suicide terrorists who fear nothing from a personal point of view must be deterred in other ways, such as having their homes destroyed and their families exiled... The pressure on the Palestinians must be increased until they refuse to allow any terrorists to act from within their areas, until we are able to travel freely on the roads.\"
Kashriel was asked how he responds to arguments by Minister Matan Vilnai and others that these measures simply cause more Palestinians to join the ranks of the terrorists. He responded, \"It\'s very interesting that all those who did not succeed in containing the terrorism while in Barak\'s security cabinet, and who failed in all security matters, now have criticism of these new measures. Let them now give Sharon and others a chance to implement a different system…\"