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Lieberman at hospital
Photo: George Ginsburg
Netanyahu visits injured troops
Photo: George Ginsburg

Lieberman: Op to end when Hamas no longer in power

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman visits injured soldiers in Beersheba, demands Israel continue attacking Gaza until terror group is defeated completely

The Israeli operation in Gaza will end once we gain full control of the Rafah crossing and Philadelphi Route and when Hamas is no longer in power, Yisrael Beitienu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman said Tuesday.

 

He spoke while visiting injured Israel Defense Forces soldiers hospitalized at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.

 

"I heard about the 2005 agreement with the international monitors," Lieberman said. "Been there, done that. No one will be a subcontractor for the State of Israel. We must control the border between Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula completely, and then move to the next stage – knocking out the Hamas regime."

 

According to Lieberman, it is impossible to obtain an agreement with Hamas. "As long as Hamas is in power, all efforts to reach an agreement will be in vain."

 

As for the elections, he said, "this doesn't interest us now. As long as the operation continues, we won't discuss the election date. Instead of dealing with the elections we must back the army."

 

Talking to Ynet, the Knesset member said that his meetings with the injured soldiers encouraged him. "I haven't seen such stamina for a long time. They all just spoke about their desire to return to activity."

 

'Healthy attitude by a healthy nation'

Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu also visited injured troops in Beersheba on Tuesday. Everyone he met with, he said, both the city's residents and the wounded soldiers – told him that they were willing to suffer and sacrifice for everything to end.

 

"This is a healthy attitude by a healthy nation," the Likud leader said.

 

Netanyahu spoke of the importance of the activity on the international level, saying that the Philadelphi Route must be sealed so that the terrorists fail to continue smuggling weapons from there.

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.06.09, 20:25
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