Peretz: We can’t ignore Gaza arms smuggling
Defense Minister says following reports that Palestinian organizations obtained dozens of antitank missiles, 'From my standpoint, Israel’s security means foiling the attempt to turn Gaza into south Lebanon'
Peretz stressed that Israel would not reconquer Gaza and would maintain its ‘humanitarian approach’ during the army’s operations there. However, the defense minister said, the protection of Israeli citizens is ‘above everything else.’
“We cannot ignore the change in the quality of arms that enter Gaza,” Peretz said. “These weapons can result in severe escalation.”
Earlier in the week it was reported that Palestinian organizations have obtained antitank missiles.
“Hamas is responsible for this,” Peretz said. “This may be the time to turn to the Palestinian nation, because I hear voices that are trying to create expectations for a wide-scale military operation; I am stating unequivocally: We have no intention of conquering Gaza. We are committed to providing security for the citizens of Israel; this is our duty and it will not be compromised.
'Israel not a part of internal PA conflict'
“From my standpoint, Israel’s security means foiling the attempt to turn Gaza into south Lebanon. If terror elements have succeeded in smuggling dozens of antitank missiles in the Strip, we will not wait for them to smuggle hundreds or thousands more. If the digging of tunnels will continue, we will not ignore this and let the tunnels smuggling lanes become freeways.”
Peretz referred to the crisis within the Palestinian Authority and blamed Hamas. "This discussion in the Knesset is being conducted in the shadow of the ongoing escalation of the anarchy within the PA the growing threats of Palestinian terror against Israel," he said. "Within the Palestinian Authority we are witnessing the growing anarchy surrounding the armed confrontations between Hamas and other elements. Hamas is continuing to reject any wording which will recognize Israel and will denounce terror. The leadership of Hamas, with the steering of Khaled Mashaal is acting continuously to undermine any attempt to reach stability in the Palestinian arena and refuse any political advancement with Israel."
"Israel is not a part of the internal conflict within the Palestinian Authority and not in the deterioration which could play in to the hands of extremists elements. We have an interest in shaping the Palestinian system and to strengthen the position of the moderate elements headed by Abu Mazen. There is a need to create the conditions for stability and for a restarting of political negotiations."
During his speech, Peretz drew a connection between the situation in Lebanon before and after the war and the crisis within the Palestinian Authority. "I want to tell you that if there is a real strategic change that is happening today in south Lebanon, this is the first time there is a connection between sovereignty and responsibility," he complimented the Lebanese government. "I don't know how long this will last, but the fact that the Siniora government is responsible not only for what is happening in Beirut but in south Lebanon as well, gives hope that this will lead to a political process. The lack of connections between the sovereignty within the PA, - and today the Hamas government is the sovereign entity there – and the responsibility for what is happening there, creates a situation which could lead to anarchy which we will all have to pay dearly for," he said.
IDF forcel looking for tunnels in Gaza (Archive photo: AP)
A large part of his speech was directed towards the people of the "peace camp," which have been criticizing him lately for his policies as defense minister. "Unfortunately there is a real effort to turn Gaza into south Lebanon. Today we heard about the visit of the Palestinian interior minister to Iran, about the orders and the trends. Even the people of peace cannot ignore that. Does the fact that we are people of peace say that we need to ignore the extreme elements? Despite the election results in the PA, I have no doubt that the Palestinian people did not want the process which we had started in the past, to change completely and turn into a complete escalation. We all know that the elections were, among others, a result of other elements within the Gaza Strip."
MK Tibi: Mofaz was more sensitive than you
During his speech Peretz was interrupted repeatedly by Knesset members from the opposition who challenged him about his policies as defense minister. The criticism came mainly from the Arab parties of the house including MK Ahmad Tibi (Ra`am-Ta`al) who said that "even former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz showed more humanitarian sensitivity than a man who says he is part of the "peace camp."
Peretz responded and referred to the humanitarian issue by saying that he was doing everything to ease the humanitarian pressures on the Palestinian people by opening the land crossings whenever possible, even during security warnings. "A humanitarian crisis is bad for Israel and serves the interests of the extremist organizations. This is why I ordered the Karni crossing to be opened as soon as the tunnel which was dug underneath it was exposed," he said.
