By Aryeh Savir
JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Monday, June 16, with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and told him, “I expect you to assist in returning the abducted youths and in apprehending the kidnappers. The Hamas kidnappers came from territory under Palestinian Authority control and returned to territory under Palestinian Authority control. This incident exposes the true face of the terrorism that we are fighting against. Terrorists abduct innocent Israeli children while we save the lives of ill Palestinian children in our hospitals. This is the difference between our humanitarian policy and the murderous terrorism that is attacking us.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu added, “The consequences of the partnership with Hamas must be understood; it is bad for Israel, bad for the Palestinians and bad for the region.”
In a statement Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that ultimate responsibility for the return of the boys lay with Abbas. The Prime Minister said that he had “demanded that the Palestinian Authority, headed by Abu Mazen, from whose territory the kidnappers came, do whatever necessary to help the hostages get home safely. That is the Palestinian Authority’s responsibility.”
Meanwhile, the IDF was continuing its extensive search to locate the three Israeli boys abducted by Hamas terrorists last Thursday. Some 40 persons believed to have connection with the kidnappers were arrested in overnight raids, including former speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Aziz Duwaik, 66, who was arrested in his home in Hebron.
Duweik is next in line to replace PA President Mahmoud Abbas as acting president of the Palestinian Unity Government (PUG) in case of an emergency. After the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, Duwaik was arrested and spent three years in Israeli prison. He was arrested again at least once after his release.
In total, some 150 Arabs suspected of being terrorists were arrested since the beginning of Operation “Bring Back our Boys” to find the missing teens.
In an operation in Hebron that has been crowned as a substantial breakthrough, an elite police unit surrounded a home with the intent of arresting the inhabitants. A gun fight broke out, during which the security forces used a special mini-projectile to breach the door. Police said that two high-level Hamas terrorists were arrested at the conclusion of the battle.
Further military operations were conducted in Ramallah and Shechem. Arab sources reported that an Arab was killed by IDF fire during the searches, apparently after attacking the force.
Security forces are expected to exert further pressure on the terrorist infrastructure throughout Judea and Samaria, with the primary objective of locating the boys, while eradicating the existing network, thus preventing a recurrence of such devastating terror attacks.
Ynet has reported that the cabinet may consider exiling several Hamas leaders from Judea and Samaria to the Gaza Strip. A senior government official said Monday morning that “this option is being examined by the Attorney General. We want to deport a few officials to Gaza.”
*
Aryeh Savir is a staff writer for the Tazpit News Agency in Israel. He may be contacted via en@tazpit.org.il