Rivlin Blames Iran in Calls to Counterparts

President Reuven Rivlin said on Wednesday that he has been calling his global counterparts to ask them to condemn the Iran-backed terrorism from Gaza and to forestall condemnation of Israeli actions.

Since the morning, Rivlin has been on the phone with the presidents of Germany, Austria and Bulgaria and with the president of the European Council.

“We will defend our citizens in every way necessary, and we will not stand by while we are being fired on. We will continue to attack those firing incessantly on our innocent civilians, and we will silence them,” Rivlin said in a statement.

“Hundreds of thousands of children and their families, most of Israel’s population, are in bomb shelters even now,” he emphasized to his counterparts. “The rockets do not distinguish between Jews and Arabs.”

The president noted that the Gaza terror groups are backed by Iran and that “we are also looking north, to Iran’s northern proxy in our area – Hezbollah.”

“No country in the world would allow brutal attacks like this and we will also not stand by.”

Similarly, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Wednesday that the military operation will continue in the Gaza Strip for as long as necessary and that there is currently no target date for an end to operations.

“Israel is not preparing for a ceasefire. There is currently no end date for the operation. Only when we achieve complete quiet can we talk about calm,” Gantz said during a tour of rocket-hit Ashkelon. “We will not listen to moral preaching from any organization or institution regarding our right and duty to protect the citizens of Israel.”