A lengthy meeting of Israel’s security cabinet took place Wednesday evening following a day of heavy Gaza rocket fire at communities across south and central Israel.
In total, 168 rockets were launched from Gaza during the day, making it the heaviest day of rocket fire on Israel since Operation Protective Edge began 44 days ago.
Since Hamas breached a truce on Tuesday, bringing about the collapse of ceasefire talks, more than 220 rockets have been fired at Israel. Around were 35 intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system.
On Wednesday, Israel continued to launch air strikes against strategic targets in the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that around 20 targets were hit overnight, while Palestinian reports said that four people had been killed in strikes in Rafah during the night
One of the recent Israeli air operations targeted Hamas’s military commander Mohammed Deif, who has long been one of Israel’s most wanted targets. Although his wife and son were killed in the strike, it remains unclear whether Deif himself survived or not. Hamas claimed that Deif is alive and warned that its rockets will specifically target Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon spoke to the media following a meeting of the security cabinet which lasted several hours.
Netanyahu gave no definitive details over what actions Israel will now take, but simply said “Operation Protective Edge has not ended, not for a moment – this is an ongoing campaign.” He added, “In recent weeks, we’ve dealt Hamas a harsh blow,” and commented that Hamas leaders are legitimate targets. Thursday morning, Hamas announced that three of its senior commanders had been killed overnight.
Netanyahu also said that Hamas is “more isolated than you would imagine. The whole Arab world is against it” with support from just “Qatar, Turkey, and Iran.”
Netanyahu summarised saying that his primary goal is to restore quiet for Israeli citizens, whether through diplomacy or on the battlefield.
During the press conference, the Prime Minister also suggested a “new diplomatic horizon” in which Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas would have a key role to play.
“I hope [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas will have a significant part in the new diplomatic horizon,” Netanyahu said.
Peace talks between Israel and the PA, brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry were suspended earlier this year after Abbas announced that he would establish a Palestinian national unity government supported by his own Fatah faction and Hamas, which was eventually confirmed in June. The move generated significant distrust towards Abbas among Israeli leaders. However, Abbas has not explicitly supported Hamas since Operation Protective Edge was launched in July.
Netanyahu indicated that he once again views Abbas as a potential partner in working towards a long-term peaceful solution, saying, “I hope President Abbas plays a constructive role. He has an opportunity to do so.” Netanyahu added, “I will look forward to restarting peace negotiations with a Palestinian government committed to peace with Israel, to the end of terror, to fulfilling the previous obligations that we have. And I think this is part and parcel of the larger picture that I’m talking about.”
Tensions between Abbas and Hamas have grown this week after Israel’s Shin Bet security agency announced that it had uncovered a Hamas plan to overthrow the PA in the West Bank. The Shin Bet said it had arrested more than 90 Hamas activists planning to carry out a string of attacks on Israel, foment violence on the Temple Mount and use the instability to carry out a military coup against the PA. Abbas said that the discovery “could have dangerous implications for the unity of the Palestinian people.”
Discord among cabinet colleagues exacerbates over direction of Gaza operation
Israeli cabinet tensions over the handling of the Gaza conflict became public Wednesday during Wednesday’s press conference.
During the past week, cabinet colleagues have expressed consternation that they were consulted only minimally on the ceasefire talks which took place in Cairo, with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yaalon taking almost exclusive responsibility for the negotiations.
Meanwhile, a variety of government ministers have publicly touted their own long-term strategies for Gaza. Economy Minister and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett has said that there should be no talks with Hamas and instead an extensive military offensive should be launched. Meanwhile, Finance Minister and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid proposed an international diplomatic initiative to bring about lasting quiet. Justice Minister and Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni presented a multi-stage plan which would eventually result in recognition of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as the sovereign authority in Gaza. Foreign Minister and Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman has called for tough military action and floated the idea that the United Nations (UN) become the custodian of the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu rebuked unnamed cabinet ministers who had recently publicised “unrealistic” positions, and “empty slogans.” He urged them to “Give support and speak less” in times of conflict and emphasised that they had ample opportunity to express dissatisfaction during the 27 cabinet meetings which have been held since Operation Protective Edge was launched. Appearing alongside Netanyahu, Ya’alon echoed his comments saying that public criticism from colleagues is unacceptable “while we are burying our dead.”
Meanwhile, opposition and Labour Party leader Isaac Herzog accused Netanyahu of losing focus, saying, “We’ve seen a prime minister who’s more concerned with his shaky relationships with his cabinet members than with giving solutions to the Israeli public. There’s no horizon in his statements or hope of an accord.”