Vilnai to Sderot: Jerusalem suffered too
Deputy defense minister responds to no-confidence motion against government over complaints of Gaza-vicinity communities: 'Here in Jerusalem we suffered hundreds of casualties on exploding buses. Did we complain?'
Unexpected rhetoric from Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai on Monday afternoon as he took the Knesset podium to rebuff the complaints voiced by residents of Gaza-vicinity communities against the leadership's conduct in the face of the incessant rocket attacks from Palestinian terror groups.
"As for the residents there – we here in Jerusalem suffered hundreds of casualties. Hundreds dead. And you know this. Whether on exploding buses and other acts of madness here, in the heart of Israel, in our Jerusalem. So did we say we can't sleep at night? Did we say we were helpless? Did we say we were abandoned? Would I as a resident of Jerusalem ever dream of saying such a thing?"
Vilani, who was responding to the no-confidence motion filed against the government, continued: "Ever since 1967 we suffered bombings here, starting with Zion Square and Mahane Yehuda, and those here who are from Jerusalem remember this well – but did we ever, even for a moment, think along those lines? Did someone in this building, in this plenum, ever utter such words?
"I would suggest we all remember that. It's important to understand that this is a complex situation."
Vilnai acknowledged there was a war being waged in southern Israel. "The situation is intolerable and should stop. There is no question about that, and the government of Israel understands this very well. It doesn't need advice. Most those speechifying here (Opposition members) are not burdened by responsibility. When you are the one responsible – you see things differently.
"Don't lecture me," said Vilnai. "You can't say that nothing is being done. I suggest you go up to the soldiers about to set out on yet another mission tonight and tell them 'you aren't doing anything,' or go up to the airforce or the girls who monitor the border for hours on end. Are they doing nothing? Are we doing nothing?"
Israel has two choices, said Vilnai: "Use of military force, at the end of which – there will be some sort of ceasefire. Or a ceasefire."
