Olmert: War in south
Photo: AP
Barak: Complex situation
Photo: Daniel Bar-On, Jini
Olmert: There is war in the south
Kadima Party holds meeting prior to Knesset plenum on Winograd, receives somber reports from prime minister who states ‘there is an incessant war between us and the terrorists, it never stops’
With emotions still high after the suicide bombing in Dimona,
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said
Monday at a Kadima Party meeting
that “we are facing an ongoing war on terror in southern Israel, and we will meet the terrorists and those who send them head on.”
The prime minister also commended Dimona’s mayor and its residents for their calm, decided actions following the bombing.
Gaza Celebrates
Strip's residents treated to flowers, candy following news of Dimona bombing. Hamas members: Palestinian organizations can still strike back at Israel in spite of war waged against them
“As you have probably heard there was a suicide bombing in Diomna today,” announced Olmert, “and as far as we know there were two suicide bombers involved wearing explosive belts.”
Olmert also noted that “one of the security guards in the city showed incredible courage under pressure, and managed to kill one of the bombers, preventing an even bigger attack. The mayor of Dimona said that city residents are acting calmly and are resiliently returning to their normal routines.”
Referring to the IDF’s assassination of a terror operative in Gaza, the prime minister informed Kadima party members that “the Shin Bet and IDF managed to assassinate a chief terror operative in Gaza. We are in the midst of an ongoing war on terror which is unrelenting, and very much in existence …we must remain vigilant and stand on guard.”
Barak: Israel in midst of complex situation
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who visited the Dimona bombing scene, also spoke about the suicide bombing at a Labor Party meeting Monday.“This was a heart wrenching stack. Two terrorists wearing an explosive belt blew themselves up in the city center. One woman was killed, and it is only the quick, brave reaction of civilians and police officers on the scene the prevented the second (injured) terrorist from also blowing himself up, which would have generated even more deaths and injuries,” said Barak.
Barak informed his party members that he visited with the police commissioner as well as his deputy, and that he “met with civilians who are showing incredible restraint considering the circumstances.”
“If one needs proof that Israel today finds itself in the midst of an extremely complex, intricate situation, he can easily find it in Dimona today,” Barak concluded.
