Netanyahu in Sderot. Caused blackout in Beirut
Photo: Amir Cohen
Warmly welcomed by residents
Photo: Amir Cohen
Netanyahu: Treat Qassams like Katyushas
Likud chairman slams acting PM's policy during visit to southern town of Sderot; 'targeted killing policy correct, withdrawal policy wrong,' he says
Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu declared Tuesday during a visit to the southern town of Sderot, where Qassam rockets continue to land every week, that when he was prime minister his government caused Katyusha rockets to stop for years.
"My – and the Likud's – policy was, and still is, unequivocal. A massive response to rocket firing. They did it once when I was a prime minister, they fired Katyusha rockets in the north and the reaction was immediate and very strong. We caused a blackout in Beirut and the Katyusha rockets stopped for years", he declared.
Targeted Killings
Security officials say Israel will continue attacking Qassam rocket launchers, rocket labs in Gaza despite death of three civilians, two teens, child, in Monday’s Air Force attack. ‘Palestinians, particularly terrorists, must take into account that in this war Palestinian civilians may also be harmed’
Netanyahu stressed that "we must return to the same policy. They promised it. They said that after the disengagement from Gaza, in the first firing of a Qassam, the reaction would be massive. Some 250 Qassam rockets were fired since."
"In order to complement the economic policy, which gives hope and future, we must combine it with a decisive security policy that is not willing to compromise on Qassam fire," he said.
The Likud chairman inaugurated a plant in the city. He claimed that the economic policy he enacted was an important part of establishing the plant.
"We drastically reduced unemployment by building plants, by encouraging investments and jobs placements. Granted, the transition was not easy, but if they're honest, they'd say that this was what saved the economy," he said.
Bibi was warmly welcomed by his supporters, among them Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal and senior members of the newly inaugurated plant.
Netanyahu remarked that building factories with the assistance of tax breaks and reinforcement of infrastructure are important factors in abolishing outlaying areas.
"It's an amazing feat for us to build all these factories under the Qassam's barrages. But this can not continue. A country can not allow barrages on its cities, citizens, and children," he said.
'We must not reward Hamas'
Referring to Kadima's declarations of further land evacuations, Netanyahu said: "In retrospect, we must not use this step again."
"To my astonishment, Kadima declares that it's about to make more evacuations. This time they encounter criticism from Mr. Beilin and Mr. Peres. This means that Olmert and Kadima went even more to the left than the left. No more middle," he charged.
Netanyahu asserted that "the targeted killing policy is correct. The withdrawal policy is wrong. We must not reward Hamas."
Regarding the prevalent corruption affairs among politicians, Netanyahu explained: "I hear today about all kinds of inquiries about corruption. Those implicated moved to Kadima, and many who appear in (Omri Sharon's diaries) are also in Kadima."
"We are going to impose totally different norms. He who has a criminal record is out," Netanyahu declared.
