Lieberman vows to retaliate if Iran continues aggression from Syria
Defense minister reiterates Israeli position on Iranian entrenchment in Syria, says Israel 'will act again' if necessary, blames Hamas leadership for deteriorating situation in Gaza.
“We have no interest in a conflict on Syrian soil, but at the same time, we will not allow Iranian entrenchment,” the Yisrael Beytenu leader said at the end of a tour of the West Bank.
“We said (what we would do) and we did and if we see a continuation of the attempts to entrench itself, we will act again,” he vowed. “I think that our position is clear and consistent and our actions are also extremely clear and consistent.”
The defense minister also said he would like to take the opportunity to express his appreciation for IDF soldiers “who are acting every day and night to ensure that the people of Israel may continue about their regular routine in peace and security and tend to things that are genuinely important.
“The economic situation is not to be taken for granted,” he continued. “Every day we succeed here in the face of attempted terror attacks, and there are also huge successes for all the security forces together. All are involved: the army, the Shin Bet and the police. There are people who can be depended on.”
Addressing the situation among the Palestinian population in the West Bank and the escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip, Lieberman said that Israel was in the midst of a situation that was “not simple.”
“We have begun the month of Ramadan and we see what is happening in the Palestinian Authority (PA) and we also see, unfortunately, two opposing phenomena," jhe explained.
"On the one hand, now we have passed the economic parameters and we see in Judea and Samaria a simple improvement from year to year and from month to month,” Lieberman continued, citing the increase in imports and exports and in all forms of revenue.
“On the other hand, we see in the Gaza Strip a decline. The same parameters show a constant decline, and that’s why I recommend to the Gaza residents to ask themselves why there is a constant improvement in Judea and Samaria and why there is a deterioration in the Gaza Strip and the answer is because of Hamas leadership.”
Lieberman also touched on the Palestinian requests to the International Criminal Court on Tuesday to open an “immediate investigation” into alleged Israeli “crimes” committed against the Palestinian people.
“I see with great severity the entire attempt to deteriorate the situation on the political level and the appeal to an International Court in The Hague,” he said.
“Going to international institutions and requests to be accepted by all kinds of international organizations, contrary to all understandings and agreements with Israel and the United States, deteriorates matters."
