Bibi Vows to Expand W Bank Settlements in Response to Palestinian Ops.
Local Editor
The “Israeli” entity’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to legalize thousands of settlement units in the Occupied West Bank settlement of Ofra following an operation that killed two “Israeli” soldiers on Thursday.
The two “Israeli” soldiers were killed in Assaf Junction, an outpost less than 6 kilometers away from Ofra, when a vehicle opened fire towards them on Thursday.
Netanyahu requested that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit take legal steps to facilitate the construction of 82 new settlement units in Ofra, as well as two new industrial zones in “Avnei Hefetz” and “Beitar Illit”.
According to a senior official cited by “Times of Israel”, the Netanyahu also sent a message to Hamas, warning them from carrying out any operations.
“… There will not be a situation in which there is a ceasefire in Gaza and the use of fire in ‘Judea and Samaria’ [West Bank],” the official said.
“Last night we settled accounts with the murderers... We will settle accounts with whoever did this,” Netanyahu said with “Israeli” Occupation Forces’ [IOF] chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot by his side.
"Our guiding principle is that whoever attacks us and whoever tries to attack us – will pay with his life. Our enemies know this and we will find them. They think they can uproot us from our land. They will not succeed," Netanyahu added.
Netanyahu also ordered a demolition of the perpetrators’ homes in the West Bank within 48 hours, as well as sealing off the town of al-Bireh near Ramallah, increasing detentions of Hamas members in the West Bank, and reinforcement of protection along roads and placement
The announcement came after coalition party “Jewish Home” on Monday called on Netanyahu to grant the Ofra settlement the status of a “regular” “Israeli” town.
“The ‘Jewish Home’ Party calls on the prime minister to immediately regulate the settlement of Ofra and grant it the status of a regular town in our country,” a statement from the right-wing nationalist coalition party said on Monday.
The “Israeli” entity’s so-called Justice Minister and member of the “Jewish Home” party, Ayelet Shaked, issued a similar statement following Sunday’s attack in Ofra, calling on Netanyahu to change the legal status of the settlement.
Meanwhile, some thousands right wing protesters were demonstrating outside Netanyahu’s Prime Minister Residence in al-Quds [Jerusalem] on Thursday, waving signs saying “Bibi, where is the security you promised us”.
Netanyahu has been under immense pressure from coalition members and “Israeli” settlers since March 30 when weekly protests in Gaza turned violent and brought “Israel” and Hamas to the brink of war.
Hamas and the “Israeli” regime finally agreed on a ceasefire in November which was heavily criticized by “Israeli” opposition lawmakers and Avigdor Lieberman who resigned as war minister over the decision.
Hundreds of demonstrators from Gaza border communities protested the ceasefire, demanding a new policy to deal with Hamas’ firing of rockets over “Israeli” cities.
Netanyahu announced that he would take over the war ministry portfolio after Lieberman resigned, while promising “Israeli” settlers that he had a plan for Gaza.
Attempting to ease the pressure, Netanyahu presented the leaders of the entity’s southern communities adjacent to the Gaza border with a financial plan worth 500 million shekels ($135 million) which will fund a variety of programs for the years 2019-2020.
“The program, which will be submitted to the government for approval in the coming weeks, includes strengthening emergency medical infrastructure, informal education, welfare services and security grants to assist in the communities' ongoing functioning. Additionally, subsidies for day care centers will be provided and augmented agricultural quotas, such as for egg and milk production, will be allotted, and more,” a statement from the prime minister’s office said.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
