Netanyahu Promises ‘Strong, Rapid, Precise’ Response to Terror Attacks

At an emergency meeting of the Security Cabinet on Motzoei Shabbos, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed a “strong, rapid, precise” response to the deadly terror attacks in Yerushalayim. The measures put forward included arming Israeli civilians and harsher measures against Palestinians complicit with terrorists.

“On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of those murdered in the heinous and terrible attack in our capital, Yerushalayim. This is a criminal attack at the entrance of a beit knesset on International Holocaust Day,” he said.

Netanyahu announced several new policies that his cabinet decided upon following the attack. “We will seal and demolish terrorists’ houses in an expedited fashion, in order to exact an additional price from those who supported terrorism. This process already started yesterday and is in progress,” Netanyahu said.

Continuing to delineate the plans, Netanyahu said “We have decided to revoke social security benefits, Israeli IDs, and residence visas from families supporting terror. We are also expediting the process for civilians to obtain firearm permits, and will consider steps to strengthen settlements in Yehudah and Shomron in order to make clear to terrorists that we intend to stay in our land.

“I thank the President of the United States, my friend Joe Biden, who spoke with me and expressed his shock and sorrow at this terrible act of murder. I also thank many other leaders, including from Arab countries, for standing by Israel at this time. We all pray for the recovery of those wounded in the two attacks.”

Netanyahu went on to “praise the police and the security forces for their determined and quick action, as well as the resourcefulness and bravery shown by ordinary citizens, who shot the terrorists and thus saved many more lives.”

The cabinet’s steps to be taken also include new moves to “strengthen” Jewish communities in Yehudah and Shomron.

Speaking to reporters at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center, where victims were being treated, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that he wanted the home of the terrorist in Friday night’s attack to be sealed off immediately as a punitive measure, lashing out at Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara for delaying his order.

She “is not allowing us to seal the house. In my opinion this is awful. In my opinion, it can’t be like that,” he said.

He also called for demolishing dozens of Palestinian homes that Israel says were illegally built in east Yerushalayim, granting more gun licenses to Israelis, and applying the death penalty to Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis.

In an initial response to Friday night’s attack, Israeli forces fanned out in the neighborhood of the 21-year-old Palestinian terrorist. Police arrested 42 of his family members and neighbors for questioning in the A-Tur neighborhood.

The IDF said it had deployed another battalion to Yehudah and Shomron, adding hundreds more troops to a presence already on heightened alert in the region.

In the Jenin refugee camp, the site of a deadly IDF raid on Thursday that sparked the latest escalation, footage showed Palestinians dancing and cheering in celebration of the terror attacks. Palestinian detainees who celebrated in prison after Friday’s attack were placed in solitary confinement, the Israeli prison service said.