Netanyahu accuses Iran of orchestrating string of West Bank terror attacks
'We are in the midst of a terrorist assault encouraged, directed and financed by Iran and its proxies,' Netanyahu said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of being behind the recent series of terror attacks against Israelis in the West Bank.
On Monday, a drive-by shooting attack killed 42-year-old mother of three, Batsheva Nigri on Road 60 near Hebron. Her six-year-old daughter, who was also in the car, was unharmed while a 40-year-old Aryeh Leib was injured and taken to the hospital.
“I would like to send my condolences to Batsheva’s family, may G-d avenge her, a devoted mother of three children who was killed in such a brutal manner near Hebron today. I would also like to send my best wishes for recovery to the man who was wounded; we are all praying for his wellbeing,” Netanyahu said.
The prime minister repeated what the Israeli army has said for years, namely that Iran is financing terror groups in both Gaza and the West Bank, while hinting that Israel will continue to target Iranian activity in other countries.
“We are in the midst of a terrorist assault encouraged, directed and financed by Iran and its proxies. We are working around the clock, all commanders and all soldiers, to apprehend both the murderers and those who try to murder Israeli citizens. As of today, we have caught them all and we will catch these as well,” Netanyahu said.
“It must be understood that a considerable portion of this terrorist wave comes as a result of outside guidance. We are using means, and we will use yet more, both offensive and defensive, to settle accounts with the murderers and those who dispatch them, near and far,” he added.
Photo credits: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also accused Iran of being behind the recent terror attacks in the West Bank.
“It is important to understand the significant change that is taking place on the ground – it is related to Iranian funding, and to the proliferation of weapons under the Iranian directive. Iran seeks every means to harm the citizens of Israel,” he said.
Monday’s attack came just two days after another terror attack killed an Israeli father and his son in the Palestinian town of Huwara in the West Bank.
On Tuesday morning, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians suspected of carrying out the terror attack near Hebron. Dozens of other Palestinian suspects were arrested in the area.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad welcomed both attacks in the West Bank in recent days, calling them “heroic.”
comments