Operation Pillar of Defense – FM Liberman speaks to his counterparts
Israel is doing everything possible to prevent harming innocent civilians in Gaza, while the Palestinians in Gaza continue to target Israeli civilians.
FM Liberman (Reuters archive photo) |
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman spoke during the day with his counterparts around the world and explained Israeli policy regarding Operation Pillar of Defense. Over the past few hours, FM Liberman has spoken to the foreign ministers of Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France, Canada and Bulgaria.
FM Liberman told his counterparts that Israel is doing everything possible to prevent harming innocent civilians in Gaza, while the Palestinians in Gaza continue to target Israeli civilians.
FM Liberman stated that Israel will not be satisfied with a cease-fire that will be broken within a week or two, and intends to create a deterrent effect that will prevent the Palestinians in Gaza from employing terrorism against Israel.
President Peres on the current situation (Communicated by the President’s Spokeswoman)
„The world is beginning to understand that we are operating with responsibility and we do not take human life lightly. I don’t know any country that would show restraint for as long as Israel did during the attacks on the south.”
President Shimon Peres, this morning (Thursday, 15 November 2012), opened the annual assembly of the Council of Religious Leaders in Israel including the leaders of all the religions in Israel. A special delegation of 19 Imams, leaders of the French Muslim community, who are visiting Israel to make their voice clearly head against extremism and terrorism, also took part in the conference.
In light of the situation in the south, President Peres delivered special remarks and said, „The State of Israel and the residents of the south are under attack. This morning rockets were fired at Israel, civilians were killed and babies were injured. Children in the south are living under the threat of falling rockets, they are seized by fear. There is no nation that loves peace and hates bloodshed like Israel, our enemies are not the people of Gaza, our enemies are not the Muslim people. Our enemies are the terrorists who operate without reason and without though.” The President stressed that Israel’s hand is outstretched for peace but that Israel will do whatever is necessary to protect her citizens, „The world is beginning to understand that we are operating with responsibility and we do not take human life lightly. I don’t know any country that would show restraint for as long as Israel did durin! g the attacks on the south.”
President Peres addressed the targeting of Ahmed Jabari yesterday by the IDF and the strikes against Hamas’ weapons and said, „The IDF operated with the utmost effort to avoid civilian casualties. Jabari was an arch-murderer and responsible for terror attacks and the killing of many. I salute the IDF and the security services for their accurate, surgical and strategically important operation.”
President Peres called on the religious leaders to unite to oppose bloodshed and work together for peace, „religious leaders have an important role in stopping terror in the name of religion, we should unite in our call against terror and against bloodshed, alongside a respect for the value of human life. We must work together, to call for reason and to guarantee the lives of all our children – that is a real contribution, religious and humanitarian.”
President Peres opened the annual assembly of the Council of Religious Leaders in Israel which took place in the Baha’i Gardens in Haifa and included senior members of the council: Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Rabbi Yona Metzger, Imam Mouhammad Kiwan, His Excellency Archbishop Aris Shirbenian, His Paternity Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa Custos, Greek Patriarch Theophilos III, Archbishop Elias Chacour, the Latin Patriarch Fouad Tawl, and the head of the Baha’i movement, Mr. Albert Lincoln.
Israel under fire – November 2012
Since November 14, 306 rockets have struck Israel, landing in the South and in the greater Tel Aviv area, killing three people in Kiryat Malachi: Mirah Scharf, 25, Aharon Smadja, 49, and Itzik Amsalem, 24. The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system intercepted an additional 130 rockets, preventing them from striking populated areas in Israel. One rocket hit Rishon LeZion, home to some 200,000 residents, located approximately 60 km from the Gaza Strip.
Operation Pillar of Defense – IDF updates
On the second day of Operation Pillar of Defense the IDF targeted 320 terror sites. The IDF targeted approximately 70 underground medium range (up to 40 km) rocket launching sites in the Gaza Strip. In addition, IAF aircraft targeted several terrorist squads that were involved in firing rockets toward Israel.
